Indian Leader Says Bloodshed Must End

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee sent a strong message to a peace conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, saying the nuclear-armed rivals must end decades of bloodshed and stop denying people on both sides their right to better lives.

Vajpayee did not attend the meeting. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf did not issue a statement and was not expected to appear. The gathering was organized by journalists in both nations, and participants included 33 lawmakers from India as well as legislators from 12 Pakistani parties.