ISLAMABAD, 7 June 2006 — Pakistan wants the Iraqi Army and security forces to take over control of their country, said Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam at the weekly briefing here yesterday.

“Pakistan has provided training to Iraqi diplomats and we have offered to impart military training to the Iraqi armed forces,” Tasnim said.

Responding to a question regarding the sale of military equipment to Iraq, she said: “It’s premature to say anything on this issue now, but we are willing to extend all sorts of cooperation to the Iraqi government.”

Tasnim said Islamabad intends to send an official delegation to Palestine. “Modalities and the time frame for the visit are being worked out between the Foreign Office and the Palestinian Authority.

Referring to talks with India, Tasnim said Pakistan was disappointed with the “slow pace” of peace talks with India.

Relations between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors must move beyond “confidence-building phase” that commenced with the resumption of dialogue on different issues in 2004, said Tasnim.

“We are disappointed with the slow pace of forward movement in the composite dialogue process but I would not say it has broken down,” she said. “The process is continuing and we would like to see ...further movement. We certainly need to move beyond the confidence-building phase into addressing disputes for resolution between our two countries,” Tasnim said.

She said that Pakistan will cooperate with India in fighting militants if it provides evidence of involvement by Pakistani individuals or groups in terrorism in Indian Kashmir.

“We have never received any information and in the absence of any proof or evidence these remain baseless allegations,” she said.

Since the so-called “composite dialogue” between Pakistan and India began two years ago, there have been improvements in relations in various sectors. But little headway has been made on security related matters, particularly the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan, Turkey to Boost Cooperation

Pakistan and Turkey will boost cooperation to fight terrorism, Internet crimes and drug and human trafficking, officials from both countries said yesterday.

Pakistan also handed Turkey a list of 26 people suspected of involvement in human trafficking, officials said. The director general of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, Tariq Pervaz, told AFP there was a gang in Turkey that facilitates illegal Pakistani immigrants on their way to Greece and other European destinations for employment.