Pakistan gives dates for initiation of Nankana Sahib-Amritsar bus service
PakistanTimes.net Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Monday said it has proposed new date between the technical experts to discuss modalities of initiating the Nankana Sahib-Amritsar bus service.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan has asked India to convey its convenience to discuss the modalities. The trial run of Lahore-Amritsar bus would be conducted from Dec 11-13, she added.

The earlier trial run, scheduled for October, was postponed, owing to the devastating earthquake of Oct 8, that killed over 73,000.

United States of Kashmir

The spokesperson when questioned about the statements of a "United States of Kashmir" by Mir Waiz Umar Farooq and Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, said it was one of the options being discussed between the two sides.

"The government of Pakistan does not have to comment on each and every option discussed," she said.

However the spokesperson pointed; "We are for the association of Kashmiri leaders with the peace process and any solution must be acceptable to all the three stakeholders, the Kashmiri people, Pakistanis and Indians," she added.

To questions about the earlier statements by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz about de-militarisation and self-governance, she said "it is just an idea at this stage."

Without going into details Ms Aslam described these as "important ideas if India responds positively...modalities can be worked at, but it can't happen unilaterally."

She replied in affirmative when asked whether the matter was discussed between Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the SAARC at Dhaka.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did take note", however refused to divulge any details, saying, "we will talk about these, when we reach there."

Peace Process

About the ongoing peace process, the spokesperson said it was moving forward, "maybe not at the speed we like".

She also recalled President Musharraf's statement at the International Donors Conference where he addressing India, said it was a difficult time for the Kashmiris and any respite in what they are going through, would be the best donation.

Tasnim Aslam however made it clear that any discussion on options of self-governance for Kashmiris or the de-militarisation of both sides of Kashmir were no indication that Pakistan had changed its position.

"We have not," she said and added that Pakistan still adheres to its stance that the issue be resolved according to the UN resolutions.

She said different proposals were being discussed to find a lasting solution of the Kashmir issue that is acceptable to all the sides and "out of the box thinking was required."

Ms Aslam said there can be forward movement only if both the sides show flexibility.

Donors Conference

To a question about international donors conference, she said Pakistan was grateful to the international community for the donations.

"We do hope these pledges will convert into a concrete form," she added.

She said Pakistan was also mobilising all its resources to help the earthquake victims and added "lot more will be done."

About the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran, the spokesperson said there was no reference to either Pakistan or Dr A Q Khan in the report.●