Pakistan offers ceasefire

Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, yesterday offered an immediate cease-fire along the disputed and heavily militarised border that divides the part of Kashmir ruled by India from that controlled by Pakistan.

In a speech to Indian MPs on a peace mission to Pakistan, President Musharraf called for an end to fighting along the line of control.

"We are fighting each other daily. Daily there are casualties on both sides. There has got to be a ceasefire," he said, after inviting the Indian delegation for tea at his official residence in Islamabad.

He added: "This is possible tomorrow morning. I could give the orders today."

Mr Musharraf's unexpected overture is the latest step in the peace process between India and Pakistan. The process began three months ago when the Indian prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, unexpectedly offered to extend the hand of friendship.

The president also called yesterday for India to introduce its own ceasefire in the "occupied", or Indian-controlled Kashmir Valley.

"We should learn from history and should not sit in the past. We should learn that both of us have harmed each other," he said.

India last night reacted coolly to the Pakistani offer. Officials made it clear there could be no ceasefire until Islamabad ended its support for "cross-border terrorism".

At the weekend India and Pakistan restored full diplomatic ties for the first time since militants attacked India's parliament building in December 2001. A bus service between Delhi and Lahore has also resumed.