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Indian, Pak experts to talk CTBT in April

Pakistan will hold talks with New Delhi next month on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and related issues, Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad has said.

This would be in conformity with the recently signed Lahore declaration, he told newspersons in Islamabad.

Ahmad said the two countries would also start a new round of secretary-level talks in the second fortnight of May. The dialogue would be based on the principle of ''review and improve'' as regards Kashmir, peace and security, and six other issues.

Shamshad said the ''spirit of the Lahore declaration is intact and newspaper statements could not become a hurdle in its implementation.''

''The talks at New Delhi will be a test of Indian intentions as to how it responds to the sincerity of Pakistan,'' he added.

The foreign secretary also categorically denied ''any cold war'' with Tehran over the Afghanistan issue, saying that both Iran and Pakistan wanted durable peace in the war-ravaged Islamic country.

Ahmad conceded that there have been some ''difficulties'' about Afghanistan but maintained that the problems were gradually lapsing. He underlined the need for both the countries to work together for peace in Afghanistan.

To a question, Ahmad said the NATO air strikes on Yugoslavia were carried out after diplomatic efforts had failed. (Read what Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said on the issue.)

''It was a timely action,'' he said, adding it would help stop genocide in Kosovo.

UNI

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