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Vajpayee's remarks unfortunate: Pakistan

K J M Varma in Islamabad

Pakistan on Tuesday described as unfortunate Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's remarks that the atmosphere was not conducive for talks between the two countries and said that it differed with his perception.

Reacting to Vajpayee's remarks made in Tokyo on Tuesday, Pakistan defence spokesman Major General Rashid Qureshi said, "All I can say is it is very unfortunate for the Indian government and the leadership to say this."

He said Pakistan differed with Vajpayee's assessment over the atmosphere.

"We may differ on the interpretation of the environment," he told reporters in Islamabad.

"I think one needs to start talking and take the first step for environment. From Pakistan's point of view it is unfortunate, if that is the view held by the Indian leadership," he said.

Qureshi said, "All problems and conflicts between India and Pakistan existed due to difference over Kashmir."

Pakistan, he said, was very up-front about talks, which prompted President Pervez Musharraf to go to Agra in July this year.

He said Pakistan remained open to resolve all the differences over all issues including the Kashmir issue.

"We remain committed to the peaceful resolution of differences," he said.

Referring to Vajpayee's appeal to Pakistan not to interfere with the proposed elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Qureshi said Pakistan had not created any impediments in Kashmir.

"I do not think Pakistan is creating any hurdles at all," he said and denied allegations of interference. He said India blamed Pakistan for every problem it faced.

Asked about Indian Government's decision to invite Hurriyat Conference leaders for talks, foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said the organisation's leaders have already responded to it by saying that they would talk if Pakistan was also associated with it.

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