Indian PM offers friendship to Pakistan from behind bulletproof glass

The Indian prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, offered friendship with arch-rival Pakistan yesterday in the first public address in Kashmir by an Indian head of government for 16 years.

Thousands of soldiers provided security as separatist groups shut down the Jammu-Kashmir state capital of Srinagar with a general strike to protest against the visit.

"We have come to share your pain and grief," Mr Vajpayee told the crowd from behind a bulletproof window at a cricket stadium in the city. "We hope this new year brings us peace, prosperity and brotherhood in this sacred land," he said, referring to the Kashmiri new year, celebrated with the arrival of spring.

Mr Vajpayee did not announce any new peace initiatives with Pakistan, or the Islamic militant groups fighting since 1989 for Kashmir's independence from India or its merger with Pakistan in an insurgency that has led to 61,000 deaths.

Police estimated a crowd of 30,000 at yesterday's rally - the biggest in Srinagar since authorities banned demonstrations in the capital after the insurgency began with mass street protests.

Speaking of Pakistan, Mr Vajpayee said: "We want friendship with our neighbour. But both sides have to act positively."

In Islamabad, the Pakistani information minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, responded: "We welcome this announcement by the Indian prime minister."

"And if India took one step, Pakistan will take two steps for friendship and good relations with India. We are ready to hold talks with India any time."

India has said it will not hold talks with Pakistan until Islamabad ends its support for Islamic militants. Pakistan says its support is only ideological, and it does not provide the rebels with weapons and training as New Delhi alleges.

India and Pakistan each claim all of Kashmir, which is divided between them.

The nuclear-armed rivals have fought three of their four wars over control of the region.

"The guns cannot solve problems. Guns can kill people, but not feed them," Mr Vajpayee said.

Although Indian leaders have spoken to troops in Kashmir before, Mr Vajpayee's speech was the first appearance before a general audience since Rajiv Gandhi addressed the public in Srinagar in 1987.

Mr Vajpayee is among the few national politicians who are respected in Kashmir. Some in the crowd stood and cheered him, and state officials declared it a historic day.

The state's chief minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, who heads a two-party coalition that defeated Mr Vajpayee's allies in elections last autumn, urged people to cooperate with the New Delhi government's efforts to stop the bloodshed.

"The government of India has appointed a negotiator to hold talks. I hope all will cooperate," said Mr Sayeed.