Peace Treaty with India: Pakistan for Solution of Issues as Pre-Requisite                       
By Maria A Khan 'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Monday that the settlement of all longstanding issues was necessary before entering into an agreement of friendship with India.

During a weekly briefing here, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said this while commenting on Indian premier’s statement.

The spokesperson said that the Indian premier had remarked about an agreement of friendship already, she said adding, “however he did not mention any such immediate pact.”

Responding a query, Ms Tasnim Aslam said three to four agreements between Pakistan and India are expected to be signed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to Pakistan.

Answering a question regarding softening visa policy between the two countries, the FO spokeswoman said Pakistan wishes a pact in this connection to be finalized as soon as possible.

Manmohan’s Plea

An earlier report from New Delhi had said that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated on Monday his desire to see his country sign a peace treaty with Pakistan.

"I earnestly hope that relations between our two countries become so friendly, and that we generate such an atmosphere of trust between each other, that the two nations would be able to agree on a treaty of peace, security and friendship," Singh told Indian business leaders in New Delhi.

India and Pakistan, both nuclear armed, have been since 2004engaged in a fitful peace process aimed at ending decades of animosity that has led to three wars.

Of Mukherjee Visit

Foreign Office spokesperson Ms Tasneem Aslam said that Pakistan and India will review the progress made during the third round of their composite dialogue and discuss bilateral relations and the furture course of the peace process during the forthcoming visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to Islamabad this week would extend a formal invitation to the Pakistani leadership for the 14th SAARC summit to be held in New Delhi in April, she said.

Mukherjee will also hold talks with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri to discuss the progress made so far in the composite dialogue launch in January 2004, besides planning for the forth round of talks, Ms Tasneem Aslam added.

The two countries are likely to sign several agreements including one on visa relaxation to facilitate people-to-people contacts.

About the proposed visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan, the spokesperson said the date had not yet been finalized.

Ms Aslam, when asked who will represent Pakistan at the SAARC Summit, said no decision had been made as yet.

To a question whether India had shown some flexibility over the Kashmir dispute, the spokesperson said the Indian Prime Minister in his recent statements had welcomed various ideas floated by President General Pervez Musharraf for movement towards a resolution of the core issue.

About Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s recent visit to Afghanistan, the Foreign Office spokesperson said the visit had positive outcome, including the agreement of the two sides on the return of Afghan refugees.

The decision on repatriating the refugees living in camps at the Pak-Afghan border is a positive development, she said.

Ms Aslam said Pakistan had increased the rehabilitation aid for Afghanistan by US 50 million dollars, raising the total to 300 million dollars.

She said the decision to extend the rail track from Chaman to Spin Boldak was also another achievement.

About the proposed jirga commission, she said its composition would be finalized in the next few days.

She said interaction during Aziz’s visit to Kabul was helpful in improving the relations.

About mining the Pak-Afghan border, the spokesperson said army had been given the task to identify the areas for this along the border between the two countries.

She said precautionary measures would be taken for the safety of civilians on either side of the border and necessary documentation was being introduced to facilitate the movement of people across the frontier.

Of EU Statement

To a question regarding European Union’s statement about transparency in next general election, the spokesperson said Pakistan welcomes international observers for the polls but rejects any external pressure.

She said Pakistan’s relations with the EU were based on mutual interests.

The ties were not a favour to Pakistan on the part of the EU but were based on equality.

Kashmir Issue

About Kashmir issue, Ms Aslam said the dispute was alive on the agenda of the United Nations.

She referred to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent statements on his return from Japan and subsequently his address at Amritsar in which he supported the proposals of President Pervez Musharraf on the Kashmir issue.

About the visit of Canadian foreign minister who was due in Pakistan on Monday, Ms Aslam said he would hold talks on promotion of bilateral trade and economic ties and also discuss the regional situation including Afghanistan.

The visit is a part of high level exchange of visits between the two countries. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his visit to Canada last year met his counterpart on the sidelines of international economic summit held in Halifax.

The spokesperson said both the countries enjoyed cordial relations.

Canada was assisting Pakistan’s development projects and also provided prompt assistance in the wake of the massive earthquake.●