Putin briefs Blair on Kashmir crisis

British Prime Minister Tony Blair today discussed the crisis in Kashmir with Russian President Vladimir Putin as signs emerged that the tense standoff between India and Pakistan could be easing.

In a 15-minute telephone call to Chequers, Mr Putin briefed the premier on his meetings with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

The talks came as Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said British troops were not poised to go into Kashmir to ease tensions in the region, although he said it was one possible future option.

In an apparent easing of tensions, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said India was considering returning some of its diplomats to Pakistan.

Returning from the sub-continent Mr Armitage said it was clear ‘‘tensions are down’’ between India and Pakistan.

India was considering making some ‘‘military gestures’’ to lessen tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals, he added.

Pakistan claimed earlier its jets had shot down an unmanned Indian spy plane near Lahore, the country’s second largest city.

The two nuclear powers resumed shelling along their tense border, killing three people, after the plane was allegedly shot down last night.

But despite the alleged incident Mr Armitage said he believed, based on his discussions in New Delhi, that the situation has improved markedly.

‘‘It’s quite clear that there will be some actions on the part of India responding to the messages I brought (from Pakistan),’’ he said on his arrival in Estonia after talks in India yesterday.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, attending a meeting with Baltic and Nordic defence ministers, planned to consult with Mr Armitage before deciding when to travel to India and Pakistan to continue efforts at averting war.

Mr Armitage added: ‘‘It’s quite clear, at least temporarily, the tensions are down.’’

The Indians were ‘‘talking about some diplomatic actions, which could include the return of some people to diplomatic postings in Islamabad and see some reduction of military tension.

‘‘They are going to make, as I understand it, perhaps some military gestures as well, prior to Secretary Rumsfeld’s arrival.’’