ISLAMABAD, April 8: Pakistan said on Monday that talks with India were “not on the horizon” although Islamabad had repeatedly reiterated that it was ready for (bilateral) talks.
Speaking at his weekly news briefing here, the Foreign Office spokesman, Aziz Ahmad Khan, said during the current Saarc ministerial meeting in Islamabad Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz would have a bilateral meeting with the Indian minister K.C. Pant as was customary on such occasions.
The spokesman asserted that the first pre-requisite for the success of regional cooperation was a climate of peace, security and tranquillity in the area, adding unfortunately massing of troops on Indo-Pakistan border had created tension and uncertainty, impeding regional cooperation under Saarc.
Pakistan, Mr Khan said, would like reduction in tension in South Asia with both sides withdrawing their troops to peace-time locations so that not only the dangerous situation developing along the borders was removed, but the regional peace and security were also strengthened ultimately promoting progress in the Saarc region.
When asked about international reaction to the planned Presidential referendum, the spokesman said that it was a separate issue.
“As far as this referendum is concerned, it is a separate issue,” the spokesman said, adding that the roadmap for the restoration of democracy that had been earlier outlined was being followed scrupulously and everybody had expressed appreciation of the fact that Pakistan had been following that roadmap.
However, the referendum was a separate issue for which the President had held extensive consultations with political parties and groups, the spokesman said and added now the President had preferred to go to the people to get their verdict about the reforms he had undertaken, while the date for referendum was still to be announced.
