ISLAMABAD, April 14: Pakistan brushed aside any doubts about progress on the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India on contentious issues, including Kashmir.
Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told reporters at his weekly press briefing here on Wednesday that the peace process between the two nations was proceeding according to a 'full calendar' of frequent meetings between the foreign secretaries of the two governments, beginning some time during the current summer.
No-one had backed out from the commitment made last January, he assured and said there was no lessening in their enthusiasm in their quest for security and stability in the region.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said that Pakistan hoped to receive soon New Delhi's positive response for convening a meeting on May 25-26 on confidence-building measures in the field of nuclear sector. Schedule for the twice-postponed meeting on the proposed Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service was being worked out by the two sides, the spokesman added.
Islamabad has recently 'approached' New Delhi for its support to Pakistan for the membership of the ARF (Asean regional forum), a subsidiary of Asean, where the spokesman believed Pakistan could make a valuable contribution and gain advantage from the ARF.
India's opposition in the last year's election frustrated Pakistan's candidacy but the spokesman hoped that New Delhi would not hinder Islamabad's ARF membership this time. Last year Pakistan had received unanimous support in the Asean, but for India.
Answering a question about the army operation in Wana, the spokesman said that at present a political track (negotiations) was under way in the vicinity of Wana. About the treatment to be meted out to Taliban chief Mulla Umar and Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, he said it was premature to say anything about that since they had not been captured yet.
What to do with them would be considered and decided when they were caught, he added. The spokesman affirmed that Pakistan had serious reservations on a draft resolution relating to nuclear proliferation and was now before the UN Security Council of which it was current president.
Pakistan had been in contact with five permanent members of the UNSC, its non-permanent members, the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement and the OIC to seek necessary rectification, he said.