Pak. did not arrange Naik's visit

By Amit Baruah

ISLAMABAD, APRIL 8. Pakistan today said that India, by rejecting its offer of talks, was ``going against the trend of the times and the will of the international community''.

A Foreign Office spokesman told reporters: ``Parroting allegations of infiltration will take them nowhere. We have repeatedly offered to agree on mechanisms which would permit monitoring of the LoC. That is a serious approach. Repeatedly trotting out allegations is not.''

``We have made a public offer of dialogue. They have rejected it. It is up to the Government of India to decide its policy....their purpose is to continue to drum up propaganda against Pakistan as a smokescreen to divert international attention....'' he said.

On the issue of the Samjhauta Express, Pakistan claimed that India had been asked to provide the rake for operating in the second half of 1999, but despite an agreement in principle, the accord was not implemented. ``India failed to live up to its commitment of December 1999 to contribute a rake for the service between Lahore and Amritsar, despite our assurances to provide the repair facilities at Lahore.''

On the recent visit of the former Foreign Secretary, Mr. Niaz Naik, to India, the spokesman said the visit was not arranged by the Government of Pakistan, ``nor do we have anything to do with it. He undertook a private visit....''

The Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, would leave for Paris tomorrow (where he is scheduled to meet the French Foreign Minister) en route to Havana for the G-77 summit. On his way back, the General will visit Egypt and Libya.

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