International
Pak. still for talks
By B. Muralidhar Reddy
ISLAMABAD, DEC. 8. Pakistan today reiterated its call to India for a dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, across the table.
The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Aziz Ahmed Khan, told a press conference here that Islamabad remained ``steadfast'' in its desire to have a peaceful and negotiated settlement on Kashmir and all other issues.
In response to a question on the mission of the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, Mr. Khan said he had advocated the path of dialogue.
Expressing the hope that India would relent to the ``widely-held'' perception in the international community that New Delhi and Islamabad should begin talks, Mr. Khan said it was ``suggesting that the two countries sit and discuss all issues. Hope India will listen to the widely-held opinion and relent.''
The spokesman refuted the suggestion that Mr. Blair's remarks on Monday, equating the suicide attacks on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Parliament with that of the September 11 attacks in the U.S., had damaged Pakistan's ``interests.'' Pakistan was one of the first countries to condemn both the incidents.
He also denied that there was confusion among the Government ranks in evolving a common stand on the response to the list of 20 wanted persons, given by India. ``There is no confusion. All statements ultimately boil down to the fact that there is no evidence. Without evidence nobody can be proceeded against,'' he said, adding that evidence was required even under Pakistan's Extradition Act.
On the reported statement of Mr. Blair that the United Kingdom would support the candidature of India for a permanent membership of the United Nations, Mr. Khan said election to the U.N. Security Council was a complicated issue.
Consideration would have to be given to different factors, including the record of the countries which staked their claim for permanent membership.
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