MEMBERS of Blackburn's Asian communities have welcomed historic talks between Pakistan and India's leaders.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee recently travelled to Pakistan for the first time in nearly five years for talks with Pakistan's President General Musharaf.

Travel and diplomatic links between the two nuclear rivals have been restored after almost two years of hostility.

Discussions over the disputed Kashmir region were also planned for the regional South Asian summit which was held in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

Blackburn councillor Hussain Akhtar, who was born in Pakistan, said: "A lot of people in Blackburn are excited about these talks.

"For many years people in Blackburn have worked together to make the town a better place.

"We have always had good relations between Indians and Pakistanis in Blackburn and we welcome the talks."

Relations between the two countries have been strained since the partition of India in 1947.

The country which had been part of the British Empire, was divided along religious lines and two nations were born - Hindu-dominated India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

But since the division, ownership of the Kashmir region has been hotly disputed.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw has also welcomed the talks. A spokesman for the Foreign Secretary said Mr Straw had no direct involvement in bringing the two leaders together but he had consistently done everything he could to improve relations between the two countries.

Mr Straw added: "I warmly welcome the breakthrough in relations between India and Pakistan with today's announcement they will take forward the process of normalisation with the commencement of a composite dialogue in February 2004."

Ismail Lorgat, of the Blackburn Friendship Mission, made up of Gujarati people, said: "If they cannot come to agreement on Kashmir they should come to some resolution so the door will be open. The Muslim community in Blackburn are happy our concerns are being addressed. They are not satisfactory to everyone but talking and sitting down will reduce the tensions between the two countries.

"Something like this should have happened a long time ago. The communities in East Lancashire feel that by dialogue they are looking towards the future. All that loss of life has been so unnecessary."