Pervez Musharraf

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he will discuss the contentious issue of Kashmir with Indian leaders during his visit to India next week.

Speaking to a gathering of students in Islamabad Saturday, Mr. Musharraf said talks on Kashmir will be more important than cricket during his visit.

The Pakistani leader is visiting India to watch his nation's cricket team, which has been on a tour of India.

Relations between the two South Asian nuclear rivals have improved since they launched a peace process last year.

Mr. Musharraf said a bus service between Indian- and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, inaugurated Thursday, is a step toward reducing tension. The two countries have twice gone to war over Kashmir since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.