Pakistani president lukewarm on Kashmir

The Pakistani President's proposal to demilitarise Kashmir has drawn a lukewarm response from India, with an official saying the proposal should not have been made first to reporters.

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf floated his proposals about disputed Kashmir in comments to reporters this week.

Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said they should have been raised through diplomatic channels.

"We do not believe that Jammu and Kashmir is a subject on which discussions can be held through the media," Sarna said told reporters.

But despite his unenthusiastic response, he notably did not insist Kashmir is an "integral" part of India.

Musharraf said Pakistan and India should consider making some areas of Kashmir independent, placing them under joint Indian-Pakistani control, or putting them under the United Nations.