Russia invites Pakistan, India for talks: Islamabad welcomes move
SAINT PETERSBURG, May 25: Russia has invited the leaders of India and Pakistan to attend a meeting in early June in Kazakhstan to prevent an escalation of the conflict over Kashmir, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Interfax on Saturday.
In its immediate reaction, Islamabad welcomed the Russian initiative and said that Pakistan would appreciate any initiative, which could lead to de-escalation of the tensions between the two countries.
“I hope they will come, so that we can discuss the matter here and prevent the further escalation of the conflict,” Putin said during a visit with US President George W. Bush to the northern city of Saint Petersburg.
“Russia regrets that, in the context of the conflict,” missile tests were being carried out, Putin said.
US President George Bush on the occasion expressed the hope that Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf would both attend a meeting in Kazakhstan in early June.
“We believe Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf will both be attending,” Bush said. —AFP
ISLAMABAD HAILS: Talking to Dawn Foreign Office spokesman Aziz A. Khan welcomed the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin to invite both India and Pakistan for negotiations in Kazakhstan next month, our staff reporter adds.
“We welcome any initiative, which would de-escalate the tensions between the two countries,” Aziz Khan told Dawn by telephone.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s policy of seeking resolution of all issues through talks and peaceful means. Pakistan, he added, had always called for talks with India.
Pakistan, he added, was ready for talks to resolve all outstanding issues including the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.
NISAR MEMON: Information Minister Nisar Memon termed the initiative taken by the Russian president positive saying that “we always appreciate any move aimed at defusing tension and establishment of peace in the region.”
“At present we await the details,” he said, adding that it was an important move more
so because it came from an important country of the world.
To a question about Indian opposition to third-party mediation or involvement of any third country for holding talks with Pakistan, the minister said there could be one-to-one talks between the leaders of the two countries in Kazakhstan.
He expressed the hope that the Indian government would also react positively to the invitation of talks and move towards de-escalation of tension in the region.
Mr Memon said establishment of permanent peace in the region was in the interest of both the countries. “War is not in the interest of either India or Pakistan.”
He said that President Musharraf had time and again reiterated that he was ready to hold dialogues with India “any where and anytime.”
Meanwhile, a team of Pakistani officials is expected to leave for New Delhi via Dubai for a meeting of Indus Water Commission slated to be held on May 29.
“There has been no official indication from India that meeting has been called off,” Mr Khan said. The Pakistani officials had reportedly been issued visas by the Indian High Commission.
