ISLAMABAD, March 7: Pakistan said on Monday that talks between the European Union and Iran on the latter's nuclear programme should continue in order to resolve the issue through negotiations.

Speaking at his first weekly press briefing, new Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said that Islamabad wanted a peaceful resolution of Iran's nuclear issue in accordance with the IAEA statute. He said the matter could be referred to the UN Security Council only after all options under the IAEA statute to find a peaceful settlement had been exhausted.

Mr Jilani said that Pakistan's position on the issue had been stated a number of times by the president and the prime minister that all differences on the Iranian nuclear programme should be resolved peacefully through negotiations under the UN statute.

At the outset of the briefing, the spokesman said in a prepared statement that a wide range of issues were expected to be discussed during the first visit to Islamabad of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in her meetings with government leaders and senior officials. Ms Rice was likely to arrive here on March 17, Mr Jilani added.

Enumerating some of the subjects that might be covered during talks with Ms Rice, the spokesman said all important issues of bilateral and international interest, including review of the US-Pakistan relations and possibilities of expanding and deepening mutually beneficial arrangements, were likely to come under discussion.

The other possible subjects would relate to the regional and international situation, international terrorism and the need to curb it, the Pakistan-India dialogue process and the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

"We hope to have very productive and fruitful discussions," Mr Jilani said. He replied in the negative when asked whether she would be bringing in some proposals for the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He said settlement of the dispute was the key to normalization of relations between Pakistan and India.

When asked about the visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the spokesman said there had been no confirmation of dates for the visit.

There had been no confirmation either of Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh's participation in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue due to be held in Islamabad from April 6. Invitation for the event had been extended to 26 foreign ministers, including the Indian minister, he added.

About the Baglihar dam, the spokesman said the issue was of great importance for Pakistan and hoped that the World Bank would soon nominate a neutral expert to help resolve the matter. Pakistan had exhausted all possible bilateral avenues to find a solution and had also responded to the World Bank enquiries to objections raised by India, he added.

Responding to a question, Mr Jilani said the authorities on both sides were engaged in resolving their dispute over the Kishanganga project in line with the mandatory provisions of the Indus Basin Treaty.

He said a meeting of the Indian and Pakistani Indus water commissioners was expected next month. According to the treaty, all available avenues for bilateral settlement must be exhausted before the World Bank arbitration in the dispute was sought.

The spokesman said that Pakistan as the current chairman of Saarc was making keen efforts for the re-convening of the 13th summit as early as possible as its postponement had caused deep disappointment to all member states. However, no fresh date had so far been agreed. All members were required to agree on date and venue of the summit as per the Saarc rules, he added.

The spokesman expressed the hope that the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service would start early next month as all necessary infrastructure had been provided. He said all arrangements were in hand and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz recently visited the Line of Control to see preparations made by Pakistan.

"The infrastructure is being built and checkpoints on the LoC are being established," he said and added that a bridge which linked Azad Kashmir with occupied Kashmir was badly damaged and needed repairs.

He said Pakistan was also building a temporary bridge for intending travellers from Chakothi who would travel on foot. He said the Khokhrapar-Munabao rail link required a longer time to begin as the laying of new track was still to be completed in Sindh.

The spokesman said he believed that the ensuing Pakistan-India cricket series would be played without any untoward incident despite threats from Shiv Sena, the fanatic Hindu militant organization, to disrupt cricket matches.

He said the question of President Pervez Musharraf going to India to watch a cricket match could be considered only when an invitation was received. President Musharraf is a very ardent supporter of cricket and sports in general, he added.