Pranab welcomes Musharraf statement

New Delhi, Feb 4 (UNI) India today endorsed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's statement that terrorists could not be taken ''on board'' on Kashmir and said they (terrorists) should be asked to give up violence.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of an international conference here that terrorists should be asked to give up violence and join the dialogue process.

''It is good. Everybody should advise terrorists to give up violence and join the dialogue process,'' the External Affairs Minister said when asked for his comments about President's Musharraf's statement.

The comments came two days after General Musharraf said in the garrison town of Rawalpindi that those who believed that violence was the only option left for Kashmir solution, could not be taken on board.

Hurriyat Chief Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, who last week returned from Pakistan, had also said the dialogue process be given a chance as only graveyards had been created in Kashmir because of violence.

UNI