Kasuri looking forward to discussions with EAM

Islamabad, Jan 12 (UNI) Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri today said he was looking forward to holding discussions with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee with a positive state of mind aimed at conflict resolution to set the ball rolling for the fourth round of the Composite Dialogue Process (CDP).

''We will improve the atmosphere and hold purposeful discussions on Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and set benchmarks for the fourth round of the Composite Dialogue Process,'' Mr Kasuri told reporters here.

The External Affairs Minister is arriving here tomorrow for talks with Mr Kasuri.

Although the visit is primarily to extend an invitation to President Pervez Musharraf for attending the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi in April, Mr Mukherjee will also meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, besides Mr Kasuri.

He said it was not just the third round of the CDP that would be reviewed, attempt would lso be made to set targets for the fourth round.

To a question on whether discussions would also focus on President Musharraf's recent four proposals, Mr Kasuri said they would do everything without ''posturing.'' He said he would have discussions with Mr Mukherjee in a ''positive state of mind'' and was ready to talk on anything.

Mr Kasuri welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposal of a Freindship Treaty between India and Pakistan describing it a an indication of progress in discussions between the two countries.

About the fourth round of the CDP which would be formally started in February when Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon visits Pakistan for talks with his counterpart Aziz Ahmad Khan, Mr Kasuri hoped that the discussions would be producctive.

The Pakistan Forien Minister rejected assertions that nothing much was expected from tomorrow's discussions.

Reports here suggest that nothing much was expected from the visit. However, the two countries are likely to sign four aagreements.

These include liberalisation of visa regime, reducing the risk of nuclear accidents, speedy repatriation of inadvertant border crossers and regular flag meetings between sector commanders on the Line of Control (LOC).

UNI