PAKISTAN: Pakistan yesterday welcomed Indian proposals to revive the peace process between the nuclear rivals, but at the same time urged New Delhi to drop its opposition to talks on the Kashmir dispute.
Foreign Secretary Mr Riaz Khokhar was responding to a package of confidence-building measures announced by India last week that included reopening transport links and sporting ties.
Although broadly agreeing to the measures, he underlined how far the two sides were from negotiations on settling the issue of Kashmir, over which the foes have fought two of their three wars.
"I think there is no question of setting aside the core problem between Pakistan and India," he told a news briefing.
India says dialogue is not possible until "cross-border terrorism" in Kashmir, which it says Pakistan actively supports, is brought to an end.
Islamabad rejects the charge, and counters that India's repression in its only Muslim-majority state is the cause of a 14-year insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of people.
"As far as Pakistan is concerned it's done its utmost and that's where the matter rests," Mr Khokhar said. "The ball is in India's court."
Political analysts said the exchange of proposals was a positive development, though only a small step.
"These things look small and isolated, but are good confidence-building measures which will create the atmosphere to really tackle the big issues like Kashmir," said former foreign secretary Niaz Ahmed Naik.
But he warned that future attacks by militants, like the one on India's parliament in December 2001 which triggered the crisis the following year, could scupper recent improvements in ties.
Violence in Himalayan Kashmir has increased recently, and at least 12 people were wounded yesterday when suspected Muslim militants threw a grenade in a busy marketplace in Anantnag.
Another 35 were injured on Tuesday when a grenade was thrown inside Indian Kashmir's main telephone exchange, and a powerful guerrilla group outlawed by Pakistan warned of more attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Mr Khokhar said Pakistan had accepted Indian proposals to hold the next round of technical talks on December 1st and 2nd on resuming air links between the neighbouring states.
Mr Khokhar also called for diplomatic missions in both countries to be returned to full strength.