Pak says it is ready for talks ‘with open mind’

New Delhi, May 29: Pakistan, in its latest communication to India, is believed to have expressed its willingness to discuss “with an open mind” every proposal or alternative that may be put forward at the talks to resolve the deadlock, according to the Karachi newspaper “Dawn.” A special representative of the paper reporting from Rawalpindi quotes “informed quarters” to say that Pakistan continues to hold that it cannot accept any of the preconditions put forward in the joint Indo-Bangladesh declaration of April 17. But, he says, Pakistan is ready to discuss the points raised by India in order to find an amicable settlement of the issues concerned if India agrees to have talks “without preconditions.” He says, quoting “informed circles,” the Pakistan Government is keen despite the difficulties inherent in terms of “the Delhi statement” to hold talks with India at an early date — not only for obtaining the “necessary clarifications” of the implications of the Delhi statement but also to explore possibilities for the implementation of the Simla agreement. This means, the special representative says, that the Pakistan Government may not insist on keeping the discussions confined to the repatriation and trial of prisoners of war and other points raised in the Delhi declaration.