Agencies

Islamabad, February 17

Pakistan has asked India to negotiate a joint agreement to lower the threat of a nuclear or conventional war, and to scale back the arms race between the two countries, officials said today.

A foreign ministry official said Pakistan hoped a "strategic restraint regime" could be put on the agenda of peace talks between the two sides taking place in Islamabad. "The proposal calls on the two sides to negotiate the threshold for minimum nuclear deterrence," said the official, asking to remain anonymous.

"There should not be an open-ended race for strategic or conventional arms. It also aims to limit the risk of a nuclear conflict and a missile race." He said the proposal was put to the Indian negotiating team when the two sides met yesterday.

The discussions are aimed at drawing up a framework for negotiations on the eight main issues of dispute, including their conflict over Kashmir.

The Indian side also proposed talks on issues relating to terrorism, the official said. The foreign secretaries of the two countries are due to meet tomorrow to wrap up the fledgling process.

The eight points identified for talks were: Peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachin, Wullar barrage project, Sir Creek, terrorism and drug trafficking, economic and commercial cooperation, and promotion of friendly exhanges in various fields.