Indo-Pak Composite Dialogue: Kashmir, Other Issues on Agenda Today              
By Maria A Khan 'Pakistan Times' Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India will start fourth round of composite dialogue process today, Tuesday when the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries will meet to discuss the Kashmir dispute, peace and security in the region and other issues.

Besides the core issue of Kashmir, the two countries will discuss nuclear and conventional arms issue, strategic restraint regime and conventional as well as nuclear balance in the region, Foreign Office Spokesperson Ms Tasnim Aslam told a weekly media briefing on Monday.

She said various suggestions on resolving the Kashmir will come up for discussion.

The spokesperson said early resolution of Kashmir issue would ensure peace, security and development in the region.

“The Foreign Secretaries will also discuss the mechanism for early return of prisoners and Visa relaxation regime and finalize a schedule for discussion on other matters including Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage and trade issues,” she said.

The spokesperson said there was no Indian prisoner of war in Pakistan.

To a question about the visit of a few family members of Indian soldiers to Pakistan who died during the war between the two countries, the Spokesperson said although there was no Indian prisoner of war in Pakistan but President Musharraf has accepted the request of some of the Indian families to visit Pakistan for their satisfaction.

Iranian Scenario

To a question about Pakistan’s response in case of any attack on Iran, the spokesperson said, “Pakistan is against any aggression and the use of force against Iran.”

She said, “Pakistan will not offer any assistance to America in case of attack on Iran as it is opposed to any military attack against Iran.”

The Spokesperson said Pakistan did not want further unrest in the region which was already in turmoil.

Answering a question about the legislation under discussion in US Senate about linking aid to Pakistan with the progress in the war against terrorism, the Spokesperson said various bills were under discussion of the American legislators.

She said Pakistan was in touch with the US administration and it had been assured by them that there will be no language prejudicial to Pakistan in the bill.

“We hope that they (American) will fulfill their promise in this regard,” she added.

About the US State Department report on human rights in Pakistan, Ms Tasnim Aslam said that the report lacked objectivity and failed to acknowledge steps taken by Pakistan to ensure human rights.

She said; “No country in the world can claim that it has perfect human rights situation,” adding that Pakistan had taken a number of steps to ensure human rights in the country.

Pakistan can point out many distortions in the report of State Department on the issue of human rights released recently, she added.

Commenting on a statement of Foreign Minister that Pakistan would respond if any one cast an evil eye on it, the Spokesperson said it was not related to any specific threat to the country.

She said, “There is no fresh threat to Pakistan from any side and only some concerns have been created in the media.”

Commenting on the meeting of Jirga Commissions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the spokesperson said during the meeting both the countries exchanged information and were working on it.

Recap

An earlier report from New Delhi had said that the fourth round of talks under the Pakistan-India composite dialogue will begin in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the outstanding issues including the core Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

The agenda includes issues of Siachin, Sir Creek, peace and security, Wullar Barrage, trade and commerce, terrorism and drug trafficking and narcotics.

Official sources in the Indian capital said the two-day Foreign Secretary-level meeting would also discuss confidence building measures like launch of truck service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, easing of Visa regime and early release of fishermen and other prisoners.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan and his Indian counterpart Shivshankar Menon will lead the respective delegation.●