Islamabad, Oct 29: In a mixed response, Pakistan today accepted some of the proposals made by India in its recent 12-point peace initiative, but made certain counter-proposals which are unlikely to find favour in New Delhi. The most significant of India`s proposals--a bus service between Srinagar and the capital of PoK, Muzzafarabad--was accepted in principle with a rider that the United Nations should be involved in this as it concerned a "disputed area".
Islamabad wants UN officials to man and control the check-points on the Line of Control and people travelling on such a bus service to carry UN documents.
The much-awaited Pakistan response was handed over to India`s High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon and later made public at a press conference by the foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar who acknowledged that the Indian proposals had created "some excitement" in the world capitals.
While couching Islamabad`s response in a generally positive spin, Khokhar emphasised the need to resume composite dialogue to resolve the "cancerous and poisonous issue".
Pakistan also made a gratuitous offer of treating "disabled Kashmiris and help widows and victims of rape affected by various operations launched by security agencies".
Khokhar also announced an offer of 100 scholarships for Kashmiri students to study in professional institutions at graduate and post-graduate levels.
Maintaining that there should be no one-upmanship, he announced another offer of free medical treatment to 20 Indian children in Karachi and in Punjab province.
Islamabad, however, accepted the proposals for sporting links and crossing of Wagah border by senior citizens on foot.
In a point-by-point response to New Delhi`s October 22 proposals, Khokhar said Pakistan agreed to hold technical level talks on resumption of air links but made it clear that it could be linked to restoration of rail links. Bureau Report