Pakistan dismay at Indian 'excuses'

Security has been on high alert in India since the December 13 attack on parliament

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan says it is disappointed by arch-rival India's rejection of its latest proposal for peace talks, calling them "absurd excuses."

Pakistan's comments came a day after Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called on Islamabad to vacate the part of Kashmir it controls before any peace talks could be held.

"It is unfortunate that despite the goodwill shown by us, despite all the steps that we have taken, that the response has been negative," Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan told a news conference on Tuesday.

"Absurd excuses are sometimes being made not to come to the talks or not to hold the talks."

The two countries have mobilized around a million troops along their border after New Delhi blamed Pakistan-based Muslim militants for a bloody December attack on its parliament.

Pakistan has consistently called for dialogue to settle the stand-off and has cracked down on militant groups blamed for the parliament attack, but India says it will not de-escalate until Pakistan stops backing what it calls "cross-border terrorism."

Patience

Pakistan would show patience and remain steadfast in its peace efforts despite New Delhi failing to respond positively to talks offers, Khan added.

"Pakistan will not be the first to initiate military action anywhere along the international border" or Kashmir, he said, adding that it would respond with full force if attacked.

Vajpayee said on Monday that while diplomatic efforts were making progress, there was no chance of peace talks unless Pakistan handed India the one-third of Kashmir it controls, Reuters news agency reported.

Vajpayee told the Press Trust of India Monday that peace overtures were always rewarded by further violence.

"Our neighbor keeps inviting us for meetings and talks," Vajpayee is quoted as saying.

"But I ask them, what do we do with meetings if we have to meet to fight once again? It is better to remain separate."

India holds about 45 percent of the disputed border territory, Pakistan a third of the area and China the remainder.

"If Kashmir is the central issue, then one-third of Kashmir is occupied by Pakistan illegally. Therefore, they should return that to India first and then start talks," Vajpayee told the Press Trust.

Buildup

India shows its military might on Republic Day

The two countries have been building up armed forces along their border following India's demand that Islamabad stop supporting separatist groups in Kashmir, a charge Pakistan denies.

Military activity in the border region has been stepped up as violence continues in the disputed region.

In Srinagar the region's summer capital, Indian forces have been locked in a gunbattle with rebels since Monday night.

Shelling across the border has also continued on virtually a daily basis with both sides trading heavy artillery and mortar fire.

Militant groups in the Kashmir territory have battled Indian rule there for about 12 years with estimates of the death toll varying from 33,000 to 80,000 people.

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since over Kashmir