Pubdate: Sat, 12 Jun 2004
Source: Navhind Times, The (India)
Copyright: 2004sNavhind Papers & Publications Ltd
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/3430
Website: http://www.navhindtimes.com/

INDIA, PAK TO DISCUSS STEPS TO PREVENT DRUG TRAFFICKING

PTI Islamabad June 12: India and Pakistan would hold a series of talks on 
wide range of issues next week, beginning with the dialogue between top 
officials of the two countries to prevent drug trafficking and smuggling.

A high-level Indian delegation headed by the Director-General of the 
Narcotic Control Bureau, Mr M K Singh would arrive in Pakistan on June 14 
to attend the meeting of the committee on drug trafficking and smuggling to 
be held here on June 15 and 16, the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Mr 
Masood Khan told a media briefing today.

The committee meeting will discuss steps to prevent smuggling of drugs and 
narcotics between the two countries.

After that a Pakistani delegation, headed by additional secretary of the 
PFO, Mr Usman Haider would go to New Delhi to attend talks on nuclear 
confidence building measures to be held there from June 19 and 20.

Mr Khan said another Pakistani delegation would go to New Delhi towards the 
next weekend to attend the official-level talks to be held there on June 21 
and 22 to resolve differences over the construction of power project by 
India on the river Chenab at Baglihar in Jammu and Kashmir.

The talks will be held at the level of secretaries of water and power to 
discuss Pakistan's objections over the projects. The Indus basin water 
commissioners of both the countries would also be part of the delegation.

After that the two countries would formally resume the composite dialogue 
process at the level of foreign secretaries to discuss peace and security, 
Jammu and Kashmir and CBMs. The foreign secretaries talks would be held in 
New Delhi on June 27 and 28.

Mr Khan said the expert-level talks on nuclear CBM would cover issues 
relating to strategic stability, confidence building, crisis management, 
nuclear risk reduction and responsible nuclear stewardship. "We are not 
starting form the scratch. We have MoU signed in 1999 which covered many 
elements like discussions on security concepts and nuclear doctrines and 
early warning of missile tests," he said.

On recent references by the President, General Pervez Musharraf about 
Pakistan's willingness to discuss no use of force with India, Mr Khan said 
Islamabad in the past has proposed no war pact with New Delhi. "But so far 
there are no takers for it. This proposal has been on the table. India on 
the hand proposes no first use," he said adding a no war pact was 
contingent on resolution of all disputes between the two countries. "It can 
not happen before that. You have to be realist," he said.

Asked about reported remarks by Indian External Affairs Minister Mr Natwar 
Singh in an interview to BBC, Mr Khan said, "Let there be no hard talk and 
cross between India and Pakistan before they hold their talks. We are 
entering into a crucial stage. There has to be an opening of the composite 
dialogue process. Before that it begins, it is advisable not to give any 
statement."
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D