13 June 2004	Sunday	24 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, June 12: Pakistan on Saturday pleaded for avoiding any "hard talk" between the governments in New Delhi and Islamabad, emphasising that both sides were about to enter into a crucial stage and their delegations would be negotiating important nuclear confidence building measures (CBM).

Responding to fairly emotional outburst and questions at his press briefing here concerning some reported remarks of Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh about the forthcoming Indo-Pakistan talks on Kashmir in the BBC 'Hard Talk' programme last week, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said he had not seen Mr Singh's programme and could not make any precise response.

However, he suggested that 'hard talk' should be avoided at this crucial stage. Any viable and durable settlement of the Kashmir issue, he said, could best be discussed by the two sides.

The nuclear CBM talks are to be held in New Delhi on June 19 and 20 at the experts level while a meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan as part of the 'composite talks' is scheduled for June 27-28 for discussions on issues including Kashmir and security, nuclear and several other vital issues.

Replying to a question on the nature of foreign secretaries' talks, the spokesman said that while he could not be specific at this stage, he would say that they would cover issues such as strategic stability, confidence-building, crisis-management, nuclear reduction and, most importantly, responsible nuclear stewardship, besides other important issues.

He said both sides already had an available background for the ensuing talks. They had exchanged memorandums of understanding in 1999 which enabled them to discuss several necessary elements.

In prepared opening remarks the spokesman said Pakistan would host a meeting on drug trafficking and smuggling and related issues on Wednesday and Thursday in the coming week.

M. K. Singh, director-general of narcotics control bureau, will lead the Indian delegation and the secretary of the ministry of narcotics control, Khalid Latif, will head the Pakistan delegation.

India and Pakistan have also agreed to hold talks at the secretaries' level on water and power to discuss Pakistan's concerns on the Baglihar hydroelectric project in New Delhi on June 21 and 22. Pakistan attached 'great importance' to an amicable resolution of the Baglihar issue, the spokesman said.

About the military operation in South Waziristan against foreign militants hiding there and other parts of tribal areas, Masood Khan confined himself to a general observation, saying that the area was a part of Pakistani territory and that the government would not negotiate with foreign militants.