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Pak. ready to take steps for resuming talks: Kasuri

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD MAY 31. The Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, has said that Islamabad is ready to take all "necessary steps" for resumption of a composite dialogue with India for resolution of all outstanding issues including the "core dispute" of Jammu and Kashmir.

Interacting with the Pakistani community at the local embassy in Teheran on Friday, Mr. Kasuri hoped that the Indian decision on resumption of dialogue with Pakistan was of a strategic nature and not a tactical move. The Minister was in Iran to participate in the three-day conference of the Organisation of Islamic Countries.

He claimed that the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, had responded in "good faith and in full measure" to the peace initiatives of the Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, by announcing several confidence-building measures.

A process of engagement, though tentative, had begun. "We welcome the recent Indian overture as it is a departure from its hostile stance and is a vindication of our position. We hope that the Indian leadership would keep up the momentum of the steps taken, to reduce tension and to reverse the negative trend of the past," he said.

India and Pakistan fought three wars over the Kashmir dispute and, last year, a dangerous confrontation was defused after India had "seen the futility of its brinkmanship and military escalation".

It was evident that the dialogue and peaceful means were the only viable options for resolution of the dispute.

He said New Delhi's decision to extend a hand of friendship must have been influenced not only by the external factors but also by internal political developments in India. "Now it seems that the Indian Prime Minister has decided to distance himself from some of the most belligerent statements of some hawkish elements in his party".

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