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India's military exercise vitiates atmosphere before talks, says Pakistan

Pakistan said India has spoiled the atmosphere on the eve of talks between the two countries by announcing it will hold military exercises on the border.

Pakistan is "extremely disturbed, particularly at the size and timing of the exercise,'' foreign ministry spokesman Tariq Altaf told reporters.

On Thursday, Pakistan and India are to reopen negotiations for the first time in more than one year. The agenda at the talks, to be held in Islamabad, are Kashmir and security concerns in South Asia, in the wake of the underground nuclear tests by both nations in May.

The talks will continue until Sunday.

But Altaf said yesterday's announcement by India that it would hold what it called routine military manoeuvres close to Pakistan's border in October and November only served to sour the atmosphere.

Indian officials said Pakistan was given advance warning of the planned exercise. It will be the biggest Indian military manoeuvres since 1987, which brought the two countries to the brink of a fourth confrontation.

''We cannot understand the purpose of such a massive exercise,'' said Altaf. "The timing of the exercise will also vitiate the atmosphere of the talks.''

Pakistan has conveyed its concern to the Indian ambassador in Pakistan.

The two estranged neighbours agreed to resume talks following a meeting last month in New York between Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief and his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Talks broke down last year when Pakistan insisted that Kashmir should be discussed as a priority issue.

In the wake of nuclear tests conducted by the two countries an inextricable linkage between the stability of the region and the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has been established, said Tariq Altaf.

Pakistan believed the post-nuclearisation phase of talks represents a historic opportunity for a positive new direction in peaceful resolution of disputes, particularly the core issue of Kashmir, he said.

The foreign secretaries will also discuss the issue of nuclearisation which, he said, is the main cause for tension and instability in the region.

UNI

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