Editor's Note:
This is an edited transcript of the interview.

The man-in-charge of the Government Complex of Islamabad, Pakistan is General Pervez Musharraf.

In the second part of In Conversation, Shankar talks to General Musharraf about the foreign policy issues that Pakistan is facing today.

Pakistan and India have fought wars over Kashmir. While India accuses Pakistan of stoking militancy in its northern most state, Pakistan claims it sees them as freedom fighters.

SHANKAR: How do you envisage the solutions to Kashmir?

GENERAL: Kashmir cannot be solved militarily first of all. And Kashmir cannot be solved if Pakistan and India lack the sincerity. So there's no question of solving it even 10 years if both lacked the sincerity. So this festering wound will continue endlessly unless both Pakistan and India show sincerity in solving it. We're looking towards India to show the similar sincerity to resolve it once and for all.

SHANKAR: Do you regret Kargil?

GENERAL: No there is nothing like regretting because this is the freedom struggle going on and the Mujahiddin activities have gone on. We're there to defend our line of control. So there's nothing like regretting really.

SHANKAR: Loss of lives?

GENERAL: Lost of lives yes, I do regret - lost of lives. One does feel sorry. But when we're talking about national interest lives are secondary. Nation comes first.

SHANKAR: You know take the example of the Middle East. Now they struck up in 1993 - a process that will lead them to peace hopefully over 7 years time. But they laid out the road map in 1993. Would you be in favour of doing something like that with India over Kashmir?

GENERAL: Certainly. I have been saying there's a lot of solutions being floated around. We know of many solutions. Everyone knows about them. But why talk about solutions? First of all let's - here the problem is that India is not even accepting to sit down and talk. So why are we talking of solutions? We will talk of solutions. We will be very flexible. But let us start talking on Kashmir at least. Let us accept that Kashmir is the main dispute between India and Pakistan. Any Indian leader said this? No. They haven't. So what are they trying to show?

SHANKAR: Well, Indian leaders have always accepted that Khasmir is ...

GENERAL:... An internal problem of theirs ...

SHANKAR: ... internal problems of theirs and they need to discuss it with Pakistan.

GENERAL: Whenever they deal with this Hijbul Mujahidin just now, when there is a window of opportunity, they're dealing with them through Ministry of Interior, as if it's their internal problem. Well I leave it to your judgement whether this is their internal judgement or it's a regional, international problem of very far reaching consequences. We need to identify, we need to crystallise the views of the Khasmiris. Because they're the people concerned. So we have too first of all understand what are their feelings, what are their views? So according to the wishes of the Khasmiris, we need to find a solution. And that is my attitude towards it.

SHANKAR: But if their wishes to be with India, will you support it?

GENERAL: Well I know one thing for sure - if anything I know 100% sure is this, that they don't want to be with India.

SHANKAR: But assumed for a minute that they are - but would you be willing to consider the idea?

GENERAL: Well, it's a hypothetical situation.

SHANKAR: Hypothetical of course.

GENERAL: If the whole of Khasmiris want to be with India, I would be big enough to understand, accept yes. OK. Be with India because if that's what they want.

SHANKAR: And if they want to be independent?

GENERAL: Again if that is their wish - one should consider that both India and Pakistan need to consider. That is where both of us are involved.

SHANKAR: But you would be willing to stand by?

GENERAL: Certainly one would like to consider if it is a massive vote in favour of independence, certainly one need to consider that. After all it's the people lives, it's the people of Kashmir. It's their desire.