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MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Tuesday (AFP) President Pervez Musharraf said on a visit to Pakistani Kashmir Monday that his government would respond to Indian aggression with its own.

He was reacting to comments by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who said earlier that Pakistan should be held accountable "for its continued sponsorship of terrorism in India."

Musharraf, asked by a reporter about Vajpayee's "aggressive" comments, said:

"If someone is aggressive to us then we are also aggressive, if someone talks peace, we will also talk peace."

During a visit to the Mangla Dam near Mirpur, 250 kilometers (156 miles) south of here, Musharraf declared Pakistan would never give up its claim to disputed Kashmir, which is divided between Pakistan and India.

"Kashmir runs like blood in our veins. We cannot give it up," he told reporters during a visit to Mirpur district of Pakistani Kashmir.

"Pakistan does not and will not accept any pressure on Kashmir. We will continue to extend political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris' legitimate struggle for freedom," he said.

Musharraf said India should negotiate a resolution to the longstanding dispute, instead of holding what he called "farcical" elections for a state assembly in its zone. 

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