ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday announced the postponement of talks with India on the Wullar barrage/Tulbul navigation project under the composite dialogue process.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam told a weekly news conference that the new schedule for the talks, slated for April 18 and 19 in New Delhi, would be announced shortly.

To a question, Ms. Aslam said the timetable for the composite dialogue would not be affected because of the postponement. "The talks will be rescheduled shortly and are not likely to disturb the schedule of other talks."The talks had to be postponed due to pre-occupation of the Indian Water Resources Secretary with other business.

India and Pakistan have been engaged in talks to resolve the issue for 18 years. Islamabad says the construction of the barrage by India can block the flow of the Jhelum, adversely affecting the country's agro-based economy. India says the barrage will not hinder water flow into Pakistan and contend that the 20-km navigational route will facilitate navigation between Baramullah and Wullar in Jammu and Kashmir.

To a question on the Baglihar project, the spokesperson said the matter was pending before the neutral expert of the World Bank and the next meeting was expected in May.

About the recent statement of Afghan President Hamid Karzai on allowing transit trade facility to India via the Wagha land border route , Ms. Aslam said Pakistan had allowed all countries to use the transit route from Karachi.

Ms. Aslam said the issue of allowing transit trade facility to India via Wagha related to overall trade relations between India and Pakistan and was covered under the composite dialogue. Pakistan had taken the position that full-fledged trade relations were not feasible pending resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Dawood issue

To a question on the reported confessions of a former cook of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim that the don lived in Karachi, Ms. Aslam said it was "one of those stories from the other side of the border."On the Iranian declaration that it had emerged as a de-facto nuclear power, Ms. Aslam said irrespective of the claims, the standoff on the Iranian nuclear programme should be resolved peacefully. She said Pakistan believed that the use of force against Iran would have a destabilising impact on the region.

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