Pak. urges India to issue travel papers to APHC team

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JAN. 4. Pakistan tonight urged India to issue travel documents to all the seven members of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to enable them visit Pakistan and hold discussions with all concerned to pave the way for a tripartite talks on the Kashmir issue.

In a statement here the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman hailed the APHC decision to depute a delegation to Pakistan in response to the invitation extended by military Government discussions to prepare the ground for a tripartite dialogue ``in accordance with the aspirations of the people of the State''.

The spokesman regretted that India has not yet responded to the APHC request and urged the Indian Government to enable all APHC executive council members to visit Pakistan.

During the visit of the Hurriyat delegation, the Pakistan Government would hold consultations with them on all issues relevant to the ``achievement of the right of self- determination'' of the Kashmiri people.

The statement said that the delegation would also be visiting the Pak. Occupied Kashmir for talks with the Government there. However, there is no mention about the intention of the Hurriyat to talk to the Pakistan-based militant organisations.

NSC reviews security situation

In a related development the National Security Council (NSC) reviewed the general security situation in the region with special focus on Kashmir. The Chief Executive and the military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, chaired the meeting.

It discussed the forthcoming visit of the Hurriyat delegation and expressed the hope that its visit would lend impetus to a tripartite dialogue process.

Besides the service chiefs, the Foreign Minister, the Interior Minister, Finance Minister and Commerce Minister attended the meeting.

In another development the Pakistan Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Abdus Sattar, has expressed the hope that dialogue between India and Pakistan would resume soon.

Referring to Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's musings, Mr. Sattar said that his views on Kashmir gave room to hope for an early resolution of the dispute.

In a separate development a spokesman of the Pakistan Government took serious exception to the reported remarks made by the Union Sports Minister, Ms. Uma Bharati, that Pakistan would be wiped out of the political map.

The spokesman termed the remarks as `irresponsible' and urged the world community to take note of the remarks.

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Section  : International
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