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Pakistan flexible on Kashmir talks,
welcomes Indian moves

Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar also said Islamabad was prepared to be flexible on the 'details' of its proposal for a three-way dialogue between J&K leaders, India and Pakistan.

"I think the Kashmiri freedom struggle is at this time expecting forward movement and if there is some visible movement (from India) then you can expect a response from the militants," he told AFP.

"Once confidence is established that India is prepared to enter into a purposeful process for the settlement of the Kashmir question then I think it would be reasonable to expect a positive response from the Kashmiri freedom struggle," he said.

He welcomed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's comments on Thursday that his government was ready to consider a request from the Hurriyat leaders to visit Pakistan for talks.

In response to India's one-month suspension of operations against militant groups in J&K last week, Pakistan has promised to use 'maximum restraint' along the Line of Control.

It has also proposed that the All Parties Hurriyat Conference hold separate talks in Islamabad and New Delhi to facilitate tripartite talks.

Indian officials have rejected any possibility of 'tripartite talks'.

"If India has any suggestions in regards to the detail of the process we will have an open mind," Sattar said.

"Tripartite, three-way, triangular - what do these words mean? The focus should be on how to involve the Kashmiris because it is their future that is at stake. Once you sit at the table you can see the shape of the table."

But he said India had to permanently end its military operations in J&K and commit itself to dialogue to convince all parties of its sincerity.

"If there are some points of detail about how the dialogue should proceed or how the Kashmiris should be involved these can be discussed. Pakistan's proposal should not be seen as rigid in this sense," he said.

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