June 28, 1999
Web posted at: 12:14 p.m. EDT (1614 GMT)

In this story: International pressure Not just diplomacy RELATED STORIES, SITES

NEW DELHI, India -- The prime ministers of Pakistan and India have exchanged messages about their dispute over Kashmir through a special envoy from Islamabad, according to India's Foreign Ministry Monday.

A ministry statement said former Pakistani Foreign Secretary Niaz Naik came to New Delhi on Sunday to follow up on telephone conversations between the Pakistani and Indian leaders. "This is to get the dialogue process back on track," it said.

Earlier, Pakistan and India both denied knowledge of Naik's visit, but a spokesman for Pakistan's foreign ministry did not rule out the possibility that Naik had gone to New Delhi on his own.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee denies any secret deals to end the Kashmir crisis. He said he expects a complete withdrawal of "intruders" over the border of what has been Indian-controlled Kashmir before he will negotiate.

International pressure

The international community has urged both sides to use diplomacy to end their dispute

On Monday, Beijing urged visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to find a peaceful end to the fighting near the Line of Control (LOC) that has divided the region between the two countries since 1972.

A Pakistani Foreign Ministry official called the Beijing discussions extensive. However, the Pakistani leader is cutting his China visit short by three days to return home and deal with Kashmir.

Meanwhile, a U.S. Embassy spokesman denied a Washington Post report that the United States was threatening to block a $100 million International Monetary Fund loan to Pakistan to defuse the crisis.

Diplomats from other countries said it was premature to talk about the use of economic sanctions, which were enforced against Pakistan last year to punish it for its nuclear tests.

Last week, Washington demanded Pakistan pave the way for a resumption of peace talks with India by removing fighters that India says has crossed over from Pakistan.

Not just diplomacy

India continues to increase pressure on Kashmir separatists without waiting for the result of diplomatic efforts.

Indian police on Monday detained a Kashmiri separatist leader during a procession aimed at attracting international attention.

Pakistan also reports India violated its airspace for the first time since two Indian jet fighters came down on the Pakistan's side in northern Kashmir on May 27. An Indian Air Force spokesman said that report was incorrect.

Sunday, India's air force switched its tactics from morning air strikes to round-the-clock bombing of guerrillas who have infiltrated Indian-controlled section of Kashmir.

Islamabad has denied that the guerrillas are led by Pakistani army troops, but the Pakistani army chief confirmed over the weekend his troops are fighting.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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