Observing that both he and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] have shown sincerity to address outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf [Images] has said the two leaders were keeping confidentiality so that extremists might not derail the peace process.

India and Pakistan have demonstrated commitment to continue the peace process for resolving amicably the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir [Images] issue, Musharraf, who was in New York to attend the UN General Assembly session, said in an interview to Time magazine.

• PM at the UN

The two leaders had a marathon dinner meeting on Wednesday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations summit on the occasion of the world body's 60th birth anniversary, as part of their ongoing dialogue to resolve various issues facing the two nations.

Later they expressed their determination to continue the dialogue, conceding that the Jammu and Kashmir issue would require patience for resolution.

Musharraf said that the two countries have made considerable progress on Siachen and on the issue of delimitation of boundary in Sir Creek.

Referring to terrorism, the Pakistan president expressed his determination to put it down with force, but said religious extremism needs to be dealt with by changing hearts and minds of the people.

However, he said, extremists comprise only a fringe minority and most Pakistanis are moderates who understand and support his policies and consider them to be in the national interest.