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Thursday, August 6, 1998

Pak terms LoC situation as `precarious,' wants to talk

ENS & AGENCIES  
ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: Pakistan today termed the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) as ``precarious carrying the risk of escalating in unchartered direction'' and suggested urgent talks with India on exercise of restraint on nuclear and conventional arms.

``We believe there is urgent need for discussion on nuclear and conventional restraint and stabilisation and avoidance of conflict,'' foreign ministry spokesman Tariq Altaf told newspersons adding the Kashmir issue also ``must get similar priority treatment.''

The situation at the LoC was ``precarious and such a situation always carries the risk of escalation in unchartered direction,'' he said adding ``the international community is seriously worried.''

Reacting to India's description as ``neurotic obsession'' Pakistan's insistence on taking up the Kashmir issue first, he accused New Delhi of ``descending to an undignified level'' and said Pakistan wanted top priority to the issues of peace and security and Kashmir.

The spokesman said India'sproposal for a ``composite approach'' to talks with Pakistan would ``take away the focus from Kashmir's centrality in the melee of a discussion on the entire gamut of Indo-Pak relations.''

The spokesman charged that India's consistent rejection of third-party mediation in bilateral disputes ``is a single-mindedly arrogant attitude.''

Meanwhile, Pakistani officials said that Indian firing had killed four people along the LoC today, the seventh day of intense firing along LoC.

The foreign office spokesmen said, ``The Indian pounding is almost unprecedented for its ferocity and the huge quantity of ammunition fired.'' The spokesman said that India has fired well over 20,000 rounds across the border.

Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.


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