Pak accuses India of massive arms build up

While insisting that “new and more sophisticated weapon systems are being inducted in our neighbourhood,” he said disarmament proposals and confidence building measures have received “dismissive responses.”

He further said Kashmir remains a major flash-point in the region which “continues to bedevil relations between India and Pakistan.”

“Pakistan is not pressing on only Kashmir problem. Ours is not a single-point agenda with India. We are prepared to address all outstanding issues between the two countries in a meaningful and in an integrated manner,” the Foreign Minister said.

This is the first time that such a conference is being organised basically to revitalise Islamabad’s foreign policy in the region and also to push economic and trade relations, official sources said. The conference which is attended by Pakistani envoys in New Delhi, Colombo, Dhaka, Male and Kathmandu, would continue for three days.

Ayub Khan said that all divisive issues among the south asian countries can be resolved provided the requisite political will and vision exists. He said “there is a need to change the old mindset. We have to break away from the conflictual relationship of yesteryears and look to the future as we enter the new millenium.”

Gohar Ayub lamented that the region remains mired in mutual suspicions and distruet — old disputes and resultant tensions continue. He said Pakistan’s foreign policy towards South Asia is moored in its desire for tension-free and cooperative relations with all countries of the region.

“The economic logic of our times forcefully dictates that the countries of South Asia chart a new course for the common benefit of all our peoples,” the Pakistani minister remarked.

He poined that a regional economic regime under SAARC must be equitable and mutually beneficial to all seven partners.

“It presupposes a level playing field in terms of national economic and trading policies,” he added. Conducive poltical environment and added that South Asia must be at peace with itself if experiment in regional cooperation is to succeed.

DPA adds from Islamabad: Gohar Ayub Khan expressed the hope to reporters that talks with India on normalising relations would resume early next year.“We hope that the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) will also enter into talks and will hold meaningful dialogue on all issues, including Kashmir,” Khan said when asked about the fate of the talks in the event the Hindu nationalist party won the new elections in India.