India-Pakistan summit ruled out

Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes said that a proposed meeting between the leaders of India and Pakistan at an upcoming regional summit in Kazakhstan was not possible.

"I do not see that possibility at all, because if there is to be any kind of talking then the cross border terrorism has to stop forthwith," he said.

Pakistan must also hand over 14 alleged Indian terrorists if there is to be any meeting, he said.

The two nuclear-armed neighbours are on a war footing and have posted more than a million soldiers on their border.

In the interview, Fernandes also called on the United States, Japan and Europe to stop giving money to Pakistan.

Asked if the aid to Pakistan should end, Fernandes replied: "Yes. That is precisely what we are saying. That if you really want that the present situation ... be brought to an end, then this is the best way of doing it. You don't have to fire a shot."

Pakistan's Prime Minister General Pervez Musharraf made no public comments as he left Islamabad on Sunday for the regional summit of 16 leaders - from countries ranging Egypt to China - to be held in Almaty,

Kazakhstan, from Monday until Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hoped the summit could help pull India and Pakistan away from the brink of war.

Musharraf and India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee have indicated they would meet Putin and officials from other worried nations trying to prevent war.

"There is no plan for talks," Vajpayee said as he departed from New Delhi. "If we see the result on the ground of General Musharraf's statement, we shall certainly give it a serious consideration."