M A I N   N E W S

Pak welcomes peace signals

Islamabad, June 9
Pakistan today said reports that India was considering diplomatic and military gestures to reduce tension indicated that the current situation between the two countries was heading towards improvement.

“Pakistan welcomes that India was considering military and diplomatic gestures to de-escalate tensions between the two countries over the Kashmir issue. It seems the situation is heading towards improvement,” Information Minister Nisar Memon said.

“It seems that the efforts of friends like the USA and Russia have been successful,” Mr Memon said reacting to announcement by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage yesterday that India was considering returning some of its diplomats to Pakistan and making some “military gestures” to reduce the tension in the subcontinent.

India has started understanding our position, he was quoted as saying by the official media.

He also reiterated that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used for any acts of terrorism abroad. President Pervez Musharraf has already stated in his speech on January 12 that Pakistan would not allow anyone to use its soil for terrorism, he said.

He also hoped that the two countries would be able to begin a dialogue on all important issues including Kashmir soon.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf has said the Kashmir “dispute’’ remained an obstacle to peace and India’s tough stand was aimed at “creating the effects of war on us.’’

India wants “to prevent us from our stand on Kashmir and to suppress the Kashmiri people’s struggle,’’ General Musharraf said here in an interview with Malaysia’s New Sunday Times, published on Sunday.

“The Kashmiri people don’t want elections (in September) because Kashmir is not a part of India.

“...they probably think that we are prevented from giving any moral or diplomatic kind of support to the Kashmiri people,’’ said the Pakistani President who has time and again reiterated his support to the “Kashmiri struggle’’.

“We see thousands being killed in Kashmir. What is happening here is state-terrorism. We are very clear that in Kashmir we see freedom fighters, not terrorism,’’ he added.

However, toeing the line put forth before US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, the military ruler said, “I think the chance of war is minimal. The threat (of war) in the last four or five days has diminished.’’ PTI, UNI

Putin briefs Blair on talks with Vajpayee, Pervez

St. Petersburg, June 9
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday briefed British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a telephone conversation about his Almaty talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

The British Prime Minister praised the result of the efforts undertaken by Mr Putin and spoke in favour of continuation of the coordinated efforts in this regard, news agency RIA Novosti reported today. UNI