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World wants India, Pak to reduce tension: Blair

British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday said the entire international community was against escalation of the stand-off between India and Pakistan and wanted the two sides to resolve their disputes through dialogue.

"It is a dispute between India and Pakistan and it is not for me to resolve it.... the whole international community has an interest that this dispute does not escalate out of control," Blair told Star News when asked whether he was here to broker a deal between the two neighbours on the Kashmir issue.

"We are with you in your fight against terrorism. But these disputes have to be resolved through a process of dialogue. If there is anything we can do... in which we can put across a message or help in any way, we will do it," he said.

Blair said the people of India and Pakistan also wanted to avoid an escalation of tensions.

Asked to comment on his reported statement that Pakistan had a 'strong' position on Kashmir, Blair said both New Delhi and Islamabad had 'strong views' on the issue.

"But what is important is that it has to be pursued by democratic, legitimate and non-violent means ... it should be resolved in a democratic way through proper dialogue," the British premier said.

To a question whether he shared Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's views on distinction between freedom movement and terrorism, Blair said, "Terrorism is terrorism ... however strong position the people may have on the issue, the matter has to be pursued through the process of dialogue, through talking and making sure that there is a political process."

Asked whether Britain would categorise Pakistan as a state which has been harbouring terrorist groups, he said, "We welcome the steps (to check terrorist outfits) taken by President Musharraf. There is absolutely no ambivalence or ambiguity that these attacks (on J&K assembly and Parliament) are attacks on the very democratic process."

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