ISLAMABAD, May 31: Pakistan on Friday welcomed US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s upcoming visit to the region and said it hoped he would be able to persuade India to come to the negotiating table.

“We welcome Rumsfeld’s visit to the region. We will expect him to tell India to stop its belligerence and talk peace,” foreign ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan told newsmen.

US President George W. Bush announced on Thursday he was sending Rumsfeld to India and Pakistan “early next week” to defuse the nuclear- armed rivals’ latest row over the disputed state of Kashmir.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is also due to visit India and Pakistan on June 6-7.

Aziz said Pakistan would urge the US emissaries to persuade India to begin a bilateral dialogue to solve the problem.

“This is the message that we are putting across to everyone loud and clear — that Pakistan did not do anything to increase tensions... Pakistan has repeatedly offered negotiation. Pakistan is ready for negotiation,” he said.

“It is India which is refusing to talk.”

Aziz reiterated Pakistan’s denials that it was allowing Islamic militants to move across the de facto border dividing Kashmir and launch attacks in the Indian-controlled zone.

“The statement issued after the joint sessions of the National Security Council and Cabinet also categorically stated the same position of Pakistan.”

The statement said Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used for any terrorist activity and that no organization in Pakistan would be allowed to indulge in terrorism in the name of Kashmir.

“There can be no other more categoric way,” Aziz said.—AFP