Pakistan, India hold talks on nuclear issues on Tuesday: spokesperson
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, April 24, IRNA
Pakistan-India-Nuclear Talks
The fourth round of expert level talks on nuclear Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between Pakistan and India will begin on Tuesday in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said on Monday.
Pakistan would approach the two day talks in a very constructive manner, Tasnim Aslam told newsmen in Islamabad.
She said Pakistan has already tabled several proposals and would bring some more during the discussions.
Pakistan would also propose a draft agreement on prevention of incidents at sea in order to ensure safety of navigation.
In line with the understanding arrived at during the third round in August last year, the two countries have already signed an agreement for pre-notification of flight-testing of ballistic missiles and operationalized the hot line.
The two day talks on nuclear CBMs would be followed by the third round of talks on conventional CBMs on Thursday.
The spokesperson said technical level discussions focused on operational and logistic details of Muzaffarabad-Srinagar truck service and Rawalakot-Poonch bus service would be held in New Delhi on second and third of next month.
To a question she hoped that there would be some forward movement on talks on the Siachin dispute at the foreign secretaries level between the two countries.
Prisoners: To another question she said there are 535 Pakistanis in Indian jails including 476 civilians and 59 fishermen. National status of 131 civilians has already been confirmed and 147 are awaiting consular access.
Similarly, there are 614 Indians in Pakistani prisons including 109 civilians and 505 fishermen.
National status of 300 has already been confirmed and consular accessed provided.
Indian PM visit: Regarding visit to Pakistan by Indian Prime Minister, Ms. Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan had extended an invitation and the Indian premier had accepted it. However, there are no dates as yet.
Iran: She told a questioner that President Pervez Musharraf telephoned his Iranian counterpart mainly to discuss the gas pipeline project.
She said oil ministers of Iran, Pakistan and India were holding talks in Doha on the sideline of an international conference on the gas pipeline and President Musharraf felt it would be better to talk to his Iranian counterpart.
Asked if the presidents discussed Iran nuclear issue, she said they might have discussed the issue.
Replying to a question she said that no high level visit from Iran is planned in near future.
Nepal: About crisis in Nepal, the spokeswoman expressed concern over escalation of violence and hoped a solution would be found while remaining within the constitutional framework of that country.
She said Pakistan is committed to Nepal's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
Pakistan-US: The spokesperson said the first round of strategic level dialogue between Pakistan and the United States would be held in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday next.
About inclusion of ISAF and NATO in the Tripartite Commission, she hoped that it would result in increased coordination.
She told a questioner that Pakistan is not aware of the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.
The spokesperson said there are presently 13 Pakistanis at Guantanamo Bay and Pakistan has sought consular access to them.
Replying a question she said the government is now focusing to crack down on mafia involved in human trafficking and sending people abroad on fake documents.
She said arrangements are being worked out with different governments to get manpower demand and process it at the government level to safeguard interests of the people.
2020/235/2322/1412
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