ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: Pakistan has expressed the hope that Russia would use its influence in bringing New Delhi to the negotiating table with Islamabad for the solution of Kashmir dispute.

“Russia can play a pivotal role in making India come to the negotiating table for a peaceful solution of Kashmir issue with Pakistan,” said Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday while talking to visiting mediamen from Russia.

Dr. Sergel N Kameneve of Institute of Oriental Studies Russia, Anatoly Shapavlov of Rossikaya Gazeta, Alexander Parkhnov of Zaftra, Boris Volkhonsky and Gorgei Zotov were included in the mediamen team.

Referring to the recent meeting of President Musharraf and President Putin in Malaysia, the minister said, the Russian leader stated clearly that he would take up Kashmir issue with Indian Prime Minister Vajapyee during his visit to Moscow next month.

Answering a question that how Pakistan can counter the recent Indian buying mania for arsenal, which would lead to imbalance of conventional power in the South Asian region, Sheikh Rashid said, “this is a well known fact that India had been struggling hard to achieve hegemonic designs and her recent stockpiling of arms and ammunition needs to be noticed by the world powers.”

Sheikh Rashid pointed out that India had not only been buying sophisticated weapons and equipment from Russia but also purchasing modern weaponry from Israel and Europe.

Quoting a recent press report, he said, Indian Prime Minister Vajapyee in his upcoming visit to Russia would finalize the deal of aircraft carrier worth $1 billion. These Indian trends need to be noticed and the world should take cognizance of the situation, he added.

Rejecting the allegations levelled by Indian leaders about the so called infiltration, the minister said that all such baseless propaganda was part of their attempts to divert world attention from implementation of UN resolutions.—APP