July 1, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 30, 1424

ISLAMABAD, June 30: Pakistan on Monday said it had suggested to India that the next round of South Asian free trade talks take place in August.

“We are committed to Safta (Saarc Free Trade Agreement) and... to negotiations,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan said at a weekly briefing.

“What we have suggested to India and other members is that these negotiations be held sometime in late August.”

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) — a regional grouping founded in 1985 — comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Four rounds of talks have already been held.

“We are looking forward to participating in the fifth round and I think that if South Asia moves towards free trade area this would be a big positive development,” Mr Khan said.

He said Indian claims that Pakistan was not fully cooperating were “a misperception.”

Foreign secretaries of Saarc countries are to meet next month in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu to finalize the dates of a summit-level meeting of leaders.

The 12th Saarc summit was supposed to take place in Islamabad in January this year but was put off due to hostilities between the neighbours.—AFP