The Hindu : Pak. for composite dialogue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Front Page

Front Page

Pak. for composite dialogue

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD May 19. Pakistan today reiterated that a "composite and sustained dialogue" was the road map for talks with India. "We want composite, meaningful and sustained dialogue on all outstanding issues," the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Aziz Ahmed Khan, told newspersons here.

He was answering a question about contradictory statements by the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Muhammad Kasuri, and the Information Minister, Sheik Rashid, about Pakistan having a road map to hold talks with India.

On the External Affairs Minister, Yaswant Sinha's proposal to have a structured dialogue, he said Pakistan had not received any such proposal. To a question if Pakistan was satisfied with the Indian response to the confidence building measures announced by the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, he hoped that the Indian response would be forthcoming. Mr. Khan said Pakistan hoped they (Indian Government) would respond positively to all the CBMs announced by Mr. Jamali so that the two countries could quickly resume the dialogue process. There were some basic level contacts, but formal talks had not yet begun.

Reacting to questions on the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's comments that Pakistan should end cross-border terrorism, Mr. Khan said: "Pakistan has always claimed that it wants a composite dialogue in which all issues between the two counties can be discussed and we are ready for that dialogue."

At the same time, he maintained that India should agree for a verification mechanism by international monitors to ascertain its allegations. "As far as infiltration is concerned, our position remains the same. There is a verification mechanism in the form of U.N. monitors. We are ready to strengthen it. India should also accept it so that we can get over with the misperception that they have and get on with the business."