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Right time for Indo-Pak talks, says Annan

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday said it was the right time for India and Pakistan to resume their stalled dialogue and he was ready to support such a move.

"I am ready to support the dialogue in any way I can," Annan told reporters at Delhi airport soon after his arrival on a three-day visit.

"My good offices will remain available should the parties wish to engage under UN auspices," Annan said.

He said there was need for a return of the spirit of the Lahore Declaration and renewal of dialogue with Pakistan to reduce tension and build confidence.

"This is essential for peace in both nations and for the security of the people of Kashmir who have had too many years of violence and suffering. It is time to begin healing the wounds to restore trust and regain a sense of common future," he said.

Annan, who will meet the Indian leadership on Friday, said, "So long as grievances persist and violence continues in Kashmir, the two countries will be unable to tap the full potential of this region".

Stressing that it was important for the engagement to begin, he said, "It is the right time for India and Pakistan to resume dialogue."

Annan, who is on his second visit to India as UN Secretary General, the first being in April 1997, will call on President K R Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, besides holding substantive talks with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

Annan, who visited Islamabad as part of his four-nation tour of South Asia, noted that Pakistan's Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf has stated that he was ready for a dialogue with India,

On the continuance of UN military observers at the Indo-Pak border in Kashmir, he said they had a mandate. If India and Pakistan were to engage, there is no need to have them, he added.

Responding to a question, Annan said he would be encouraging the Indian government to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Sharing concern over international terrorism, he said countries had to cooperate to effectively tackle this menace. He said if terrorists were given protection, "we all pay a price".

On India's demand for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council, he said this was being discussed by member states and the new President of the UN General Assembly was taking it up. "It will take time."

The UN chief is accompanied by his wife Nane Annan, UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergaast, Director in Secretary General's office Lamin Sise and spokesman Fred Eckhard.

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