December 4, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 8, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Wednesday said the reports of MI5 bugging at the Pakistan High Commission in London had put a damper on his successful visit to the UK.

This he said during a meeting with a four-member British parliamentary delegation of the Intelligence and Security Committee of the House of Commons here on Wednesday.

The delegation was headed by Ann Taylor, the Labour Party MP from Dewsbury. Other members included Kevin Barron, Alan Howarth, Michael Mates. Mark Lyall Grant, the British High Commissioner, also accompanied him.

The minister recalled his fruitful discussions with foreign secretary Jack Straw and minister of state Mike O’ Brien during his visit to the UK.

Briefing the delegation on the progress of democracy, Mr Kasuri highlighted the gains made with respect to women and minorities representation in parliament. He pointed out that minorities had been given dual vote through a joint electorate system. He said negotiations were currently under way over the Legal Framework Order with the opposition and he was hopeful that the deadlock would be ended soon.

On recent developments in Pakistan-India relations, the foreign minister said there was a need to initiate a sustained dialogue between Pakistan and India in order to resolve all outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir.