October 7, 2003	Tuesday	Sha’aban 10, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Pakistan has set no deadline for the acceptance of the invitation extended to Indian Prime Minister

Atal Behari Vajpayee to participate in the Saarc summit in Islamabad early January next year, the foreign office said here on Monday.

Speaking at his weekly news briefing, spokesman Masud Khan, however, said it would be better if the guest informed his host about his plan well in time so that appropriate measures could be adopted to welcome him.

Replying to a question, the spokesman said the United States which played a crucial role last year in defusing tension on the Indo-Pakistan border following massing of troops, was continuing its efforts to bring the two countries to the negotiating table. As far as Pakistan was concerned, he said, we were ready for peace process and resumption of dialogue with India.

Mr Khan said the growing arms imbalance between Pakistan and India came under discussion during talks between Pakistani officials and US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage held here on Monday.

The spokesman said Mr Armitage expressed the “American sensitivity to our concern.” He said President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali also raised the issue during their meetings with the US leaders at their recent visits to New York and Washington.

In reply to a question, the spokesman said the issue of sending Pakistani troops to Iraq in response to the American request was still under consideration.

ANTI-TERROR OPERATION: The spokesman said the recent operation in South Waziristan Agency targeted terrorists and was not against Islamic forces, adds APP.

“The operation was against terrorist targets, located and identified. This was based on credible intelligence and we have a very reliable intelligence network,” Mr Khan said.

Mr Khan said there was absolutely no linkage between anti-terrorist operations and Islamic forces. “Pakistan is an Islamic Republic and there was no movement against Islamic forces in the country.”

The spokesman stated that President Gen Pervez Musharraf would be representing Pakistan at the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit being held in Malaysia in October and would be talking about “enlightened moderation”.

To a question about statements emanating from Afghanistan viz-a-viz Pakistan, the spokesman said they were baseless.

He stressed the need for increasing cooperation between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States to help intensify efforts against suspect terrorists.