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Pakistan doubts India's sincerity at talks

Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz has said Islamabad is keen to continue its dialogue with India to resolve all disputes, including Kashmir.

In a panel interview to The Nation and Nawa-i-Waqt, he said India's desire to improve trade between the two countries is a ploy to give the world the impression that relations between them are normal.

But Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asserted that India is approaching the talks with Pakistan, the next round of which is to be held in February, in a "constructive spirit".

Addressing a conference of commanders of the three wings of the armed forces in New Delhi today, Vajpayee, however, ruled out any compromises that would affect India's security interests, and called upon the military to remain ever vigilant so that "we are never taken by surprise".

Aziz said Pakistan would like to keep New Delhi engaged in a dialogue to reduce the danger of war.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief has already hinted at Pakistan's willingness to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty if economic sanctions on the country are lifted, but the United States wants it the other way round.

Aziz said Pakistan's nuclear scientists are of the opinion that there is no harm in signing the CTBT and the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty as the country has enough enriched uranium to maintain the balance of power in South Asia.

He said the government is keen to pull the country out of the current economic rut as nuclear-power status is not enough to make the country strong. He pointed out that despite being a nuclear-weapons state, Russia is on the verge of economic collapse.

Aziz sought to present opposite pictures of Vajpayee and Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani.

He said Vajpayee does not want war with Pakistan, but Advani wants to crush the "freedom movement in Kashmir".

UNI

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