June 25, 2002	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, June 24: Pakistan reiterated on Monday its commitment and willingness to help resolve the outstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir but warned that incidents such as the one which took place recently on the border, in the present state of tension and massing of troops, could lead to a major flare-up.

Speaking at his weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan said that the incident like this heightened the tension. The spokesman was asked about the government reaction to the murder of a Pakistani soldier at the border by Indian forces recently.

The spokesman denied that there was any movement (from Pakistan side) across the Line of Control and recalled that not too long ago the Indian leaders themselves had alluded to that and agreed that there was no movement across the LoC.

He also recalled that President Musharraf had declared in January that Islamabad would not allow its soil to be used for terrorism.

The spokesman emphasized the need for defusing border tension, and said that India should withdraw its forces from their aggressive posture to the peace-time locations.

He said that the situation in the occupied state could not be improved by mere cosmetic measures. He underlined the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute and said that Pakistan had shown its willingness to come forward and help in resolution of this issue. “Our commitment remains and we are ready anytime,” he added.

Asked whether Pakistan would ask for total withdrawal of forces at once or agree to a phased-withdrawal, the spokesman replied it was a matter to be discussed by the two sides and assured that in case a meaningful decision was taken by India, Pakistan would not be found wanting in its response.