Kashmir being discussed in back channel: FO
Says Singh’s response ‘positive’
By Asghar Ali Mubarak

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan on Monday termed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remarks “positive” and said both the countries have been discussing these proposals both through formal and back channels.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam referring to the statement by Indian prime minister in response to President Musharraf’s proposals to resolve the Kashmir issue said both the countries have discussed these in the past and were also doing so currently.
The spokesperson quoted the President who has repeatedly emphasised that reciprocal felixibility will be required to proceed forward to find a settlement of the Kashmir dispute that is acceptable to the people of Pakistan, India and Kashmir.
She said the Kashmir issue was being discussed between the top leaders, besides at the level of Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries. “We also have a back channel that discusses these matters,” she said, however refused to go into more details.
Ms Aslam said both Pakistan and India have made proposals for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and were being discussed. She said the two Foreign Ministers will meet in Islamabad on January 13, when Partab Mukharjee arrives to formally invite Pakistan to attend the 14th SAARC summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi in April. “They will also review the proress on the third round of the Composite Dialogue process between the two countries,” she added. The Foreign Office spokesperson to a question said no decision has yet been taken as to who will represent Pakistan at the summit.
She denied any agreement signing during Mukharjee’s visit, however added that the two foreign ministers will also revise the 1974 visa agreement, besides other matters. She said the two countries will also exchange prisoners by December 25 who have completed their prison terms and their nationality has been determined.
About restrictions on the movement of Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi, the spokesperson said its proposals to liberalise the visa regime for diplomats were not accepted by India. The spokesperson said Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri will leave for Tehran on December 19 on a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Foreign Minister Manocher Mottaki.
The Foreign minister besides bilateral issues will also discuss ways and means for further strengthening cooperation in various fields, Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline, regional developments including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Middle East peace process. He is expected to meet other important Iranian leaders, including parliamentarians, Civil Society and business representatives.