ELECTION 99
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Pak ready for 'unconditional dialogue'

Pakistan is ready for ''an unconditional and result-oriented dialogue with India'' to resolve outstanding issues, including Kashmir.

Briefing the media yesterday, a foreign office spokesman said, ''Pakistan has always desired that the two countries should sincerely work towards resolving their outstanding problems, and with this end in mind we would welcome an unconditional and result-oriented dialogue with India.''

As a confidence-building measure, Chief Executive General Parvez Musharraf has announced an important initiative of unilateral military de-escaltion along the country's border with India, the spokesman said.

''The chief executive has reiterated our policy of maintaining moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris.''

The spokesman said Pakistan had always been sensitive to international non-proliferation concerns.

With regard to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, he said, ''There is no change in our positive approach. We need an atmosphere free of coercion.'' Sanctions, we have always said, ''are counter-productive and unacceptable to us. Their continuation does not evoke a sense of equality nor inspires confidence and cooperation''.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report