Jaswant-Talbott talks from Nov 16

LONDON, Nov 14 (PTI) — External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott will hold their ninth round of talks on nuclear and security-related issues here from November 16.

The two-day talks assume significance in the light of US President Bill Clinton’s proposed visit to the subcontinent early next year.

Although the comprehensive test ban treaty (CTBT) and the fissile material control treaty (FMCT) will continue to dominate the deliberations, which began after last year’s Pokhran nuclear tests, one of the major items on the agenda will be finalising dates of Mr Clinton’s tour.

Other topics likely to be discussed included, security, nuclear non-proliferation, defence posture and prevention of export of sensitive technology, official sources said here today.

They said the USA was likely to persuade India to start a dialogue with Pakistan again, now that Gen Pervez Musharraf had consolidated his position.

India, on the other hand, was expected to raise the issue of fresh spate of terrorism from across the border with the military regime doing little to stop it.

India ‘avoiding’ talks on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Nov 14 (PTI) — Pakistan’s military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf has accused India of "avoiding" a discussion on Kashmir and termed New Delhi’s seeking deferment of the SAARC summit in Kathmandu on the ground of military take-over in Islamabad as "violative" of the SAARC charter.

In interviews to American and British media, he said Pakistan was ready to resolve all problems with India but "of all our issues, Kashmir is the main issue. But India is avoiding discussion on the subject."

"It is India which coined this wonderful word 'bilateralism' but it has been used not to negotiate at all," General Musharraf alleged and reiterated third party mediation on the issue.