India's prime minister, using his strongest language against Pakistan since the two countries pulled back from the brink of war in June, accused Islamabad on Thursday of "cross-border terrorism" in disputed Kashmir. Atal Behari Vajpayee's speech appeared to be in response to an address by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf who said India's plans to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir state in September and October were farcical.

Both countries were marking 55 years of independence from British rule -- Pakistan on Wednesday and India on Thursday -- when the subcontinent was divided into Islamic Pakistan and mostly Hindu but secular India.

"Our neighbor claims to be fighting terrorism in international forum. But in this region it has double standards," Vajpayee said. "It is trying to get Jammu and Kashmir through cross-border terrorism," he added.

India has long accused Pakistan of "cross-border terrorism" by helping Kashmiri nationalist fighters infiltrate into Indian-ruled Kashmir.

The nuclear rivals came to the brink of war over the dispute in June in a crisis eased only after Musharraf, under intense U.S. pressure, promised Washington he would permanently end infiltration into Indian Kashmir.

Vajpayee said infiltration into Kashmir was continuing and accused Pakistan of interfering in the state elections by effectively calling for a boycott.

India sees Kashmir as an integral part of the country and is determined to hold state elections as a means of bringing peace to the region and showing the legitimacy of its rule there.

Musharraf said on Wednesday Pakistan could not be blamed for Kashmiri separatist violence, saying India's poll plans were an effort to give legitimacy to its "illegal occupation" of Kashmir.

"The government of India has organized such farcical elections in the past," he said.

"These so-called elections have invariably been rigged and have always been boycotted by the Kashmiri people."

Kashmiri nationalist groups have said they will not participate in the elections, to be held in four rounds starting on September 16, with counting due on October 10.

While taking a hard line on Pakistan, Vajpayee was conciliatory to Kashmiri people, offering them more autonomy after the elections which India says will be free and fair.

But his comments fell short of demands by separatists who want talks as a prelude to holding elections, and some say the poll should be held under the auspices of the state governor, rather than under the ruling National Conference, a pro-Delhi Kashmiri party who they accuse of rigging elections in the past.

PHOTO CAPTION

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, surrounded by elite bodyguards, waves after his speech to the nation on the 55th Independence Day from the Red Fort in New Delhi, August 15, 2002. REUTERS/Kamal Kishore