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Pakistan upbeat over dialogue process

By K J M Varma in Islamabad
June 07, 2004 19:22 IST
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Asserting that all 'misgivings' have been removed over the continuation of the Indo-Pak peace process with telephone conversations between the foreign ministers of the two countries, Pakistan on Monday said that it has no 'anxiety and self doubt' about furthering the dialogue process starting later this month.

"We are not worried about statements coming from Delhi  in the recent past. Statements have been made and we responded to them. Since the foreign ministers have spoken to each other twice in the past week the misgivings have been removed," Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan told a media briefing.

Elaborating further he said, Pakistan Foreign Miister, Kurshid M Kasuri has proposed rhetoric restraint regime and it has been observed by the two sides.

"As far as Pakistan is concerned we are ready to invest time and energy in the peace process and the dialogue process. We do not have any anxiety or self doubt and we are sure footed and are approaching the process and the dialogue starting later this month with self confidence," he added.

Asked for Pakistan's reaction to External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh's proposal for a common
nuclear doctrine for India, Pakistan and China, Khan said it was innovative but Pakistan was not yet sure whether it was proposal or a statement by Singh.

"We have to see whether it is a serious proposal," he said adding it could figure in the discussions between expert level talks on nuclear CBMs to be held in New Delhi on June 19 and 20.

"We can hear the Indian side and understand what the proposal is. It is new and innovative proposal and require examination and further consideration," he said

Citing press reports from India he said, "There were dissenting remarks about this proposal both from the
government and the opposition side. So we have to know what Natwar Singh's exact proposal or intention is."

On reservations expressed by hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on the Srinagar-Muzafarabad bus service,  Khan said Geelani need not worry as the proposal made by India was not going anywhere.

"We have to hold technical level talks first and then graduate to serious political level. We have not even started talking on this issue," he said.

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K J M Varma in Islamabad
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