KASUR, Aug 20: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said on Saturday that Pakistan was fully aware of its defence needs and would do what was required. Speaking to reporters, he said that Pakistan wanted durable peace in the region and would be willing to reduce its defence budget if India cut its defence spending.

Mr Kasuri congratulated Pakistani scientists for building indigenous cruise missile and said that it had enhanced defence capability.

He dismissed the allegation by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about so-called cross-border terrorism.

Mr Kauri said that Pakistan was engaged in peace dialogue with India. Pakistan was pursuing a policy of peaceful co-existence with neighbours, he added.

The foreign minister said the Kashmir issue was the focal point and it should be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

He said New Delhi’s decision to allow leaders of the held Kashmir to visit Pakistan was laudable and Islamabad would not object if Kashmiri leadership of this side of the divide visited India.

Regarding terrorism, he said President Gen Pervez Musharraf had warned foreign militants hiding in tribal areas to surrender and gave the assurance that they would not be handed over to any country. But the militants ignored the warning and the government had to launch a crackdown against them.

He said the government got 60 Pakistani prisoners released from Guantanamo Bay after hectic diplomatic efforts and talks were under way for the release of other prisoners.

Regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, Mr Kasuri said Tehran’s rights should be protected under the NPT and the issue should be resolved peacefully.

In a separate interview, he said the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue was necessary for durable peace in the region.

He said Pakistan was committed to the ongoing composite dialogue process with India.

He said although the pace of peace process was slow yet progress was being made and the situation was far better now as compared with 2002.

On concerns about the holding of Saarc summit in Dhaka after a string of blasts there, he expressed the confidence that the Bangladeshi government would be able to host the summit successfully.

Mr Kasuri reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to extend all possible assistance to the Afghan government during their forthcoming parliamentary elections. –APP/PPI