Musharraf leaves for India

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [ Images ] left Islamabad [ Images ] on Saturday afternoon on a three-day visit to India [ Images ] accompanied by a high-level delegation.

Complete Coverage: Cricket and Kashmir -- Musharraf in India

Musharraf was seen off at the airport by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and top defence officials. India's Deputy High Commissioner T C A Raghavan was also present at the airport.

Musharraf, who is also accompanied by his wife Sehba, flew to Jaipur [ Images ] from where they will board a helicopter to go to Ajmer to offer prayers at the dargah of famous Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.

He is scheduled to arrive in Delhi [ Images ] later in the evening from Jaipur.

Before emplaning for Jaipur, Musharraf said: "I think it is very much a historic visit. It has chances for optimism because the environment, when you compare Agra [ Images ] with today, is very different. "It is a congenial and friendly environment and the desire from both sides is to make it a success," he told reporters at the Chaklala military airbase.

When asked at what point would he want the Kashmiri leaders involved in the Indo-Pak talks, Musharraf said: "When [they] should be made part of the peace process, as far as I am concerned, earlier the better," he said.

About his meeting with All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders, he said he would try to bring harmony between the divided separatists groups in Kashmir [ Images ].

"I will be meeting the APHC leaders. I am confident it will result in a lot of harmony. It is extremely important that I meet them because we have to decide on their future, therefore their involvement is extremely important," Musharraf said.