The joint statement issued by the United States and Britain on Thursday regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan's hand in promoting terrorism there has pleased the Indian government as well as the separatists, albeit for different reasons.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna concentrated on the fact that US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had asked Pakistan to honour its pledge and stop infiltration across the Line of Control.

"We welcome that the US and UK recognise that Pakistan has not fulfilled the commitment made... in June last year. The statement repudiates Pakistan's assertion that it has no responsibility for violence in Jammu and Kashmir," he said in New Delhi on Friday.

"We hope that Pakistan will heed the advice by stopping infiltration and by doing its utmost to cease all aid and abetment to terrorism in J&K," he said.

He also asked Pakistan to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism in its territory and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

But the All-Party Hurriyat Conference and the Shabir Ahmad Shah-led Democratic Freedom Party ignored references in the statement to Pakistan.

"It is a very positive step. US mediation in resolving the Kashmir issue will be of great help," Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in Srinagar.

The Mirwaiz was critical of Washington and London for waging an "unjust" war on Iraq. But he was quick to add, "We cannot compare the war on Iraq and the Kashmir dispute."

Shabir Shah said, "Though the US and UK are involved in a war on Iraq, we welcome the statement issued by their foreign secretaries. It is a move in the positive direction.

"The US involvement in Kashmir can lead to a long-lasting and durable peace in the subcontinent.

"India should take the initiative to kick-start talks, as Pakistan has always been asking for one to end the imbroglio," he added.

Shah said the dispute between India and Pakistan was costing the countries as well as J&K very dearly both in terms of development and loss of life.

"Innocent lives are being lost everyday. Massacres like Nadimarg and Chattisinghpora are committed by people with vested interests who do not want peace to return to Kashmir," he said.