ISLAMABAD, July 23: President General Pervez Musharraf told Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh during a meeting on Friday that tangible engagement was essential for resolving the Kashmir dispute.

The focus of the 90-minute meeting, held in the president's camp office at Rawalpindi, was on the need for tangible engagement towards the settlement of the Kashmir issue, though other bilateral issues also came under discussion, it is learnt.

Gen Musharraf was said to have reiterated the pointed statement he had made the day before that without any progress towards the settlement of the core issue of Kashmir, no headway on confidence-building measures was possible.

"The president was very clear that the two sides have to go by the principle of simultaneity and that progress cannot be made in one area while in the other it is kept on hold," sources said.

While the president did not push for any specific timeframe on Kashmir, he emphasized that progress on the issue could not be left open-ended. His contention was that at least some process of discussion on possible solutions ought to be initiated.

It was underlined that the aspirations of the Kashmiris had to be taken into account and any solution would have to be acceptable to them as well. The Indian minister is reported to have given no assurances on the issue. He maintained that the Indian government could not rush into things because it also had to take along its coalition partners. His message was that 'we have to be patient'.

The sources said that Mr Singh had raised the issue of cross-LoC infiltration and militant training camps. The president reminded him that major steps had already been taken to address these concerns. In fact, he said, the Pakistani government was being criticized for taking unilateral steps without India taking any reciprocal measures, the sources added.

According to a statement issued by the foreign office, the president while expressing commitment to making the composite dialogue process a success, emphasized the need for simultaneous progress on all issues, and most notably on the central issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

"It was important to address this issue with sincerity with a view to reaching a final settlement that accorded fully with the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiris within a 'reasonable' timeframe," it said, adding: "It was also important to provide 'comfort' to the Kashmiris as they had the most important stake in the success of the process.

"Mr Natwar Singh expressed his appreciation for the welcome and hospitality extended to him and his delegation, and satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the Saarc ministerial meeting," according to the statement.

Before boarding the plane for New Delhi, Mr Singh said he had found the attitude of the Pakistani leadership 'constructive and positive' and described his discussions with the president as 'warm, frank and realistic'.

Reading out from a three-page 'departure statement', he said India and Pakistan were committed to discussing and settling all bilateral issues, including that of Jammu and Kashmir, "to the satisfaction of both sides".

He made three references to Jammu and Kashmir, but none to the Kashmiris. He said he had conveyed to him (president) his government's intention to carry on a sustained and steady dialogue with Pakistan. "We reviewed significant aspects of our relations. Both sides reiterated the importance of continuing the dialogue process in an atmosphere free of violence" he elaborated.