UNITED NATIONS. Sept 8 Pakistan's military ruler. General Pervez Musharraf, said yesterday that he wanted proportional and mutual reductions with India in their armed forces, report agencies.

Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the UN Millennium Summit. Musharraf .also said he did not intend to run for office when Pakistan returned to elected government.

“I am a soldier and 1 remain-a soldier. 1 like acting like a soldier. I would be a total failure." he said.

His proposals for military cuts would apply to "conventional and unconventional forces." he said.

"The details can be worked if all sides are keen on the pro-

Speaking to the sununit on Wednesday. Musharraf had said he would not allow Pakistan to be drawn into a nuclear conflict.

Asked whether that meant that he was renouncing the use of nuclear weapons, he replied.

"I am going a step further. Why talk of nuclear weapons? There shouldn't be any war. Let's banish conflict in South Asia. Lets remove all forces from there. Let's remove all nuclear weapons."

Musharraf said. Pakistan will accept anyone's help to resolve its border dispute with India, since the United Nations can't seem to do it.

“This issue has been in the United Nations since 1948. It's the longest-standing dispute. It is high time." "There must be sincerity on both sides." Musharraf said. “1 would like to meet on any level, any place, any time. The ball is totally in their court. 1 don't see any progress."

He urged US President Bill Clinton to use stronger methods to press India to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee accused Pakistan of crimes against humanity and reaffirmed his refusal to talk to its military ruler until he abjures "cross-border terror-

In a hardline speech to the Asia Society in New York yesterday. Vajpayee did not refer to

General Musharrafs offer at the United Nations of talks “at any level, at any time and anywhere".

But he said Pakistan "has consciously opted to pursue the path of hostility by promoting terrorism in different parts of India." including aircraft hijacking and the slaughter of men. women and children to scuttle nascent peace talks in Kashmir.

Denouncing what he called the cloak of “Jihad” {Islamic holy war) for guerilla action in Kashmir, he said: 'This Is nothing but an attempt by those who have adopted cross-border terrorism as an instrument of state policy to disown responsibility for their terrible crimes against humanity."

Vajpayee said the current Pakistani leadership had publicly repudiated past agreements with India on improving relations, and for any dialogue to be meaningful. Islamabad must first “demonstrate its commitment to existing bilateral agreements and abjure cross-border terrorism".

Vajpayee said peace would be best guaranteed in the new century’ by nuclear disarmament. not by nuclear weapons.

But since current nuclear powers have no inclination to give up their stockpiles. India will keep a “credible minimum nuclear deterrent."

"Our experience has taught us that to defend peace, we have to be strong," he told the audience.