Riyadh, May 30
Giving a boost to their academic ties, India today agreed to help Saudi Arabia in setting up centres of excellence in its universities to promote scientific research and higher studies.

Visiting Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh, who held talks with Saudi Minister of Higher Education Khaled Al-Angari, said he had a “very fruitful discussion with the Saudi Minister to carry forward the recommendations of the Delhi Declaration signed on January 26 by King Abdullah and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh”.

The centres of excellence would be established at the university-level in Saudi Arabia to promote scientific research and higher studies with India's cooperation, Mr Singh said after the meeting.

An academic-exchange programme would also get under way, he said, adding that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is being discussed in this regard.

Mr Al-Angari said Saudi students would purse higher studies in the fields of medicine, engineering, basic sciences and information technology.

There would also be an academic- exchange programme involving professors from both countries as well as Saudi students at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

During the meeting, also attended by India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia M.O.H. Farook, Manager of Computer Science and IT Department at King Saud University Ihab Razin and other senior officials, the Saudi side said that India's expertise would be sought in setting up centres of excellence in both the existing Saudi universities and those proposed to be established within the framework of its Eighth Five-Year Plan. — PTI

Islamabad, May 30
The official-level talks between India and Pakistan under the third round of the composite dialogue process are poised to come to an end with the parleys on the promotion of friendly exchanges which will take place in New Delhi on June 1.

The Pakistani delegation for the talks on the promotion of friendly exchanges will be led by Secretary Culture Jalil Abbas.

Besides reviewing the existing visa procedures to promote tourism and culture, the two sides will discuss cultural exchange programme for 2006-8, officials here said.

The talks on the promotion of friendly exchanges will formally end the officials-level parleys on Kashmir and six other contentious issues listed for discussion under the third round of composite dialogue process.

Like the previous two rounds of the composite dialogue, the third round began with the Foreign-Secretary-level talks early this year in New Delhi during which the officials reviewed the talks on previous rounds and discussed new ideas on Kashmir, peace and security and CBMs in the nuclear and conventional fields.

After that, the concerned officials have held talks so far on economic and commercial cooperation, Tulbul navigation project, Siachen and Sir Creek.

Home Secretaries of both countries were currently holding talks in Islamabad on terrorism and drug trafficking. The two-day talks will end tomorrow. — PTI

Islamabad, May 30
Senior Baluch leader and influential tribal chief Akbar Khan Bugti has offered unconditional talks with the Musharraf regime in a bid to end the political and socio-economic stalemate in Baluchistan.

According to Amanullah Kanrani, the spokesman and Central Information Secretary of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Bugti said that he is ready for a dialogue to restore peace in Balochistan, especially in the Dera Bugti and Kohlu areas.

He, however, asked for the removal of troops from the affected areas, saying that this step would facilitate a conducive atmosphere for peace talks. Talks, he added, could not take place at gunpoint.

Kanrani further said that unlike other prominent leaders of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), 80-year-old Bugti has decided not to leave Pakistan and is determined to serve the masses.

Kanrani made it clear that Bugti had the right to defend himself and his colleagues if they were attacked, as not doing so would have an adverse impact on the general Baluch public, as had happened in Kohlu and Dera Bugti in December 2005. Then, at least 200 persons were killed and over 4000 had been arrested during a Pakistan Army operation.

When asked why the Nawab had opted to move into the mountains, the JWP spokesman said he had been forced to do so along with several members of his immediate family such as grandson and heir apparent Nawabzada Brahamdagh Bugti and others.

Kanrani claimed that the Pakistan Government was in the process of preparing to file false cases against Bugti and his associates to justify their arrest. Bugti, therefore, had opted to be accessible to his followers and others across the country through satellite phone.

To another question, Kanrani described the law and order situation in Balochistan as getting from bad to worse.

He said JWP had representations in the Pakistan Senate, the National Assembly and the Balochistan Assembly. When asked whether the JWP would participate in the next general elections in the country, he replied confidently that ‘‘we are with ARD and shall remain with them.’’

Balochistan, area-wise, is the largest and resource-wise, the richest province of Pakistan.For the past 58 years, it has been in the throes of political instability over a demand for self-determination and non-exploitation of its valuable mineral and natural gas resources.

Over the past year, the Pakistan Army has sought to tighten its grip over the province and in the process many innocent people have been killed. — ANI

Jerusalem, May 30
Noted Indian author Arundhati Roy has been nominated for the prestigious Spanish Prince of Asturias Prize for 2006.

The award, given to eight persons every year in several identified fields, carries a cash prize of 50,000 Euros and a sculpture by Catalan artist, Joan Miro, the Turkish Daily News reported today.

A foundation named after Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, who is also known as Prince of Asturias, chooses the winners in diverse fields such as communications and humanities, social sciences, international cooperation, scientific investigation, arts, harmony and sports.

The Prince himself gives away the prizes in the northern city of Oviedo each fall, the report said. — PTI