An Indian government official has rejected Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's suggestion on a way to bring peace to three towns in the Indian-controlled part of disputed Kashmir.
The Indian official responded Sunday to General Musharraf's offer to ensure an end to violence by Islamic militants in Srinagar, Kupwara and Baramulla if India withdrew its troops from those cities. The Pakistani president made the proposal Saturday during an interview with an Indian television news channel (CNN-IBN).
An Indian government spokesman, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna, said Sunday that security within India is a sovereign decision and will not be dictated by a foreign government.
Muslim separatists in the Indian-controlled region have been fighting for an independent Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the separatists. Pakistan denies the allegations.
Some information for this report provided by AP.