Islamabad, Oct 29: US Secretary of State Colin Powell has contacted Pakistan's Foreign Minister in Spain to encourage him to move forward in talks with India, a government official said today. Powell placed a telephone call yesterday to Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri, who stayed on in Spain after a donors' conference on Iraq which both men attended, said the official on condition of anonymity.
It came a week after India unveiled a 12-point peace plan to improve relations with Pakistan. Pakistan has not yet responded to the proposals, but has promised a "positive and robust" reply. Officials said they were putting the "final touches" to their response, which would include a fresh offer by Pakistan to hold talks over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
Pakistan's state-run news agency said Powell and Kasuri held a lengthy conversation about South Asia and about the donors' conference. Kasuri told Powell that "the only option available to India and Pakistan was to initiate a comprehensive dialogue which could address all issues of concern to both countries, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir". Bureau Report