Pakistan for liberation of diplomatic regime with India

Islamabad, Jan 3 (UNI) Pakistan today said it was awaiting Indian response to its proposals for liberalisation of the regime to facilitate movement of diplomats.

''India has imposed restrictions on the movement of our diplomats and failed to respond to Pakistani proposals for liberalising the diplomatic regime,'' foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said at a press briefing here.

She said there was no proposal under consideration to extend limits of Islamabad up to the neighbouring town of Taxila for Indian diplomats.

The Indian government had recently restricted movements of Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi without assigning any reasons.

Officials in the foreign ministry said they had taken up the matter with Indian authorities after restrictions were imposed on its diplomats three months ago and requested them several times to remove these restrictions as they are contrary to the spirit of the peace process.

The restrictions barred Pakistani diplomats from travelling to the suburban towns of Noida and Gurgaon and exposed them to great difficulties as the New Delhi airport is located in Gurgaon.

About the coming visit of foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee to Pakistan, she said he was basically coming to extend invitation to the Pakistani leadership for the SAARC summit being held in New Delhi in April this year.

''However, he will also hold bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri to review the progress achieved during the third round of peace talks on outstanding issues including Kashmir issue,'' she added.

UNI