ISLAMABAD, Dec 14: Pakistan’s official reaction on Sunday to the former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein’s arrest was marked by guarded optimism.

“This is an important development and we are following it very closely,” was the measured response given by the Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan when contacted by Dawn on Sunday. “We hope that this will lead to peace and stability in Iraq,” he added.

The spokesman parried further questions, saying for the moment that was all he had to say.