ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: Pakistan on Monday proposed that Islamabad and New Delhi should hold talks next month on resuming a train service between the two countries but also expressed disappointment at India’s rejection of a ceasefire offer by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

“Pakistan has proposed to India (the) second half of September for holding of technical-level talks between the railways authorities of the two countries to discuss resumption of the Samjhota Express,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The air link talks between the two countries are due to start here on Aug 27.

Besides, foreign ministry spokesman Masud Khan told a weekly news briefing that Islamabad had made a formal proposal on the talks via the Indian High Commission on Monday.

However, he said it was “disturbing” that India had so quickly dismissed Gen Musharraf’s call for a ceasefire on the Line of Control.

“The swift reaction that came from New Delhi gave the impression that they were not ready to listen to what Pakistan has to say,” he said.

“This is their mindset. Even before listening to what we have said they would reject proposals and this sounded cavalier.”

He said Islamabad had heard a lot of “doublespeak” from New Delhi in the recent past. “In one hand they extend their hand for friendship and in the other hand they have a chalice of hatred.”—Agencies

Hasan Akhtar reports: The spokesman said the president had asked India to open talks with Pakistan substantially, meaningfully and constructively without any delay as only a comprehensive solution, and not a military action, could ensure a lasting settlement to the Kashmir problem.

Gen Musharraf’s recent offer, he pointed out, was a “historic opportunity” for the Indian leadership to accept it as it was intended to build a bridge between the two countries.

He endorsed a statement by the US deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage that South Asia was the most dangerous region on the earth and Kashmir was the most dangerous place in the world. He called upon India to work together with Pakistan to change this perception and the reality.

He said that 55 or more India-sponsored terrorist camps were operating in occupied Kashmir, targeting Pakistan with the objective of destabilizing it and setting off urban terror and subversive activities here.

Mr Masud Khan underscored: “It is not an allegation; they know it and we know it”.

He asked India to roll back its terrorism apparatus in occupied Kashmir which, he added, was key to the resolution of the dispute.

He said Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri would visit Kabul on Aug 21-22 for talks with his Afghan counterpart Abdullah Abdullah. The foreign minister will also meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The two foreign ministers, the spokesman said, would try to lay down the foundation of strategic cooperation between the two countries to make it more meaningful towards regional development, peace, security and stability in the area.

He said Pakistan wanted Afghanistan to avoid recriminations and cooperate with Islamabad. Both countries, he emphasized, should evolve a joint strategy to fight the Taliban threat in Afghanistan.

He said Russia had been only invited to attend the opening ceremony of the OIC summit being held in Malaysia in October.