KARACHI, 25 April 2004 — Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri has said that Pakistan and India have finalized the road map on Kashmir and a significant headway was expected in this regard in the talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries in July-August.
Addressing a conference on “Peace and Friendship in South Asia” here yesterday, he said at least this time both the countries appeared to be serious in their pursuit of peace and negotiations and, “we believe that this process of peace will not halt any more.” He said the road map on Kashmir did exist and this was jointly prepared by Pakistan and India but its details could not be disclosed presently. He predicted significant developments in this regard in the Indo-Pak parleys at foreign ministers’ level in July-August.
He said: “When you ask, do we have a road map? Then I say, yes, we have a road map and it is made up by us — Pakistan and Indian governments have jointly made it and we call it “Composite Process’ and this is the road map.”
Replying to a question pertaining to the opening of a visa office in Karachi, Kasuri said Pakistan had in exchange proposed the opening of Pakistani visa office in Jinnah House, Bombay. To another question on sending Pakistan Army to Iraq, the foreign minister said the US had requested Pakistan to send troops but the government would take a decision in the light of national interest, the views of the Parliament and the wishes of the people of Iraq.
Shahbaz Sharif Decides to Return Before May 10
President of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Mian Shahbaz Sharif has decided to return to Pakistan before May 10.
MMA is reported to have offered that Shahbaz Sharif should land at Peshawar airport while PML-N leaders wanted him to land in Lahore, Karachi or Quetta.
But keeping in view flight schedules, it was decided that Shahbaz Sharif would arrive in Lahore.
