ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: The foreign office on Monday cautiously welcomed a reconciliatory message emanating from New Delhi which spoke of exhausting diplomatic channels for defusing tension with Pakistan.

“We have always been ready for talks and it is for them to respond,” Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said at the regular briefing with a note of caution that any aggression would receive a befitting reply.

“We certainly would welcome the message as far as resolution is concerned through diplomatic means,” he said.

On the conclusion of the Indian opposition leaders’ meeting with Mr Vajpayee, he said it was in line with the policy maintained by the government of Pakistan for quite some time.

“We would like the Indian government to de-escalate the situation, defuse the tension, follow the path of talks and diplomatic channels,” he said.

On the prospects of talks between leaders of the two countries during the Saarc summit in Kathmandu, he said Pakistan was always ready for talks. “If there is a move from Indian side we will certainly welcome it,” he added.

About the arrest of Lashkar-i-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, he said the Lashkar leader had been detained under the maintenance of public order and on the charges of issuing inflammatory statements against the government.

The spokesman dispelled the impression that Pakistan had taken action against Lashkar-i-Taiba under pressure. He said being a victim of terrorism itself, Pakistan had always condemned it and extended full cooperation to the international community in its fight against this menace.

“We are part of the international coalition against terrorism,” he said, adding that Pakistan would continue to support any action against it.

He said under the chapter 7 of the United Nations Security Council rules, implementation of its resolutions was mandatory for all the member states.

Pakistan had always followed UN Security Council resolutions without any discrimination, he added.

The spokesman said the law enforcement agencies had been constantly monitoring the activities of some individuals and organizations. Action would be taken against all those involved in uncalled for activities, he added.

Responding to another question, he said the freedom struggle going on in occupied Kashmir was a totally indigenous movement and had no relationship with terrorism. Kashmiri people, he added, had been striving for what had been promised to them by the international community, the United Nations and even by the Indian leadership.

The spokesman denied reports that those detained after US bombing on Afghanistan were being interrogated by an American agency, saying that Pakistani security agencies were quite capable of interrogating.

He pointed out that they had offered a joint investigation into the Dec 13 attack on the Indian parliament.

As regards the bases being used by the US forces, the Foreign Office spokesman said the decision to get them vacated would be taken as and when it would be necessary.

Responding to a question that a list of alleged terrorists had been handed over to Pakistan by the Indian government, he said he was not aware of any such list.

As regards expectations from the United States in case of war with India, he said Pakistan enjoyed good friendly relations with the United States. He said they expected the whole international community to intervene as far as diffusion of tension at the border was concerned.

Pakistan, he added, was in touch with the United Nations secretary-general and the Organization of Islamic Conference. “Pakistan does not want an outbreak of hostilities,” he remarked.