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."