ISLAMABAD, July 22: Pakistan on Monday rebutted Indian assertion that Islamabad was sponsoring infiltration of terrorists across the Line of Control and offered verification of conflicting claims through UN monitors.

Speaking at a press briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan said the oft-repeated Indian claim was baseless. “Appoint UN observers on both sides of the LoC to verify whose contention is correct,” he said. The number of the existing UN observers group could be increased for that purpose, he suggested and observed: “I don’t think we can do more than that.”

When his attention was drawn towards Indian accusation that refugee camps were serving as training camps for Mujahideen, the spokesman said it was also a baseless allegation. He pointed out that foreign dignitaries and media persons had been visiting these camps. These visitors had heard the plight of those who had taken refuge there, he added.

Asked whether it was true that the president declined to meet British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for which a request had been made, the spokesman said Jack Straw visited New Delhi and Islamabad last week with a view to meeting the newly appointed foreign ministers in the two governments and holding discussions with them on the current situation in the region.

Although efforts were made to accommodate Jack Straw’s request during his brief stay of about seven hours in Islamabad, the president’s engagements for the day had already been booked in advance and despite the best efforts the meeting could not be organized, the spokesman explained.

To another question, the spokesman described India’s intransigence as the reason obstructing progress towards resolving issues and disputes including the core issue of Kashmir.

However, he hoped, India would heed to the call for resolving the Kashmir issue by the world leaders who had been visiting Islamabad and New Delhi, through negotiations in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

“We are ready for that and hope the other side will also be ready for it sooner than later,” he added.

About the visit of US Secretary of State Colin Powell later this month, the spokesman said it was a part of the continuing US efforts to get Pakistan and India to start negotiations.