KARACHI, April 30: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali on Wednesday said his invitation to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for talks still stood as it was in the interest of the people of the region.

“In my telephonic conversation I had extended an invitation to Mr Vajpayee to visit Pakistan. That invitation still stands. I had even expressed my readiness to visit India, for the sake of peace in South Asia,” said Mr Jamali while speaking at a news conference at the Chief Minister’s House.

Governor Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Ali Muhammad Mahar were also present.

“When we (Pakistan and India) will come to the negotiating table, we can discuss everything,” Mr Jamali said.

When asked to comment on the reported rejection of his invitation by a BJP spokesman, Mr Jamali said: “I spoke to Mr Vajpayee, not with the spokesman for the BJP. When contacts are made at such a top level, it takes time for things to take shape. Be patient.”

Asked whether he considered remarks by the BJP spokesman as an attempt to sabotage efforts towards normalization of Indo-Pakistan relations, Mr Jamali replied: “Well, I can’t say that. But such elements are present in every country. This is not a new thing. Everybody has the right to express views for or against an issue.”

Mr Jamali avoided a question when asked whether his government would show flexibility on the premise that Kashmir was the core issue outstanding between the two countries. Instead, he said, “the continuation is the name of the game, because the foreign policy of a country does not change every now and then.

“Whatever has been Pakistan’s policy during the past three years or for that matter during the past 50 years, will remain,” said Mr Jamali.

Asked whether he considered this week’s new Indian missile test helpful in creating a conducive atmosphere for dialogue, the prime minister replied: “The whole environment of India and Pakistan is under test. It is a test of leadership of the two countries.”

On the chances of success for the current government-Opposition dialogue when President Pervez Musharraf had shown no flexibility on the document’s contentious provisions, Mr Jamali said he could see light. It was the job of both the government and the Opposition to help smooth functioning of parliament, he observed.

The prime minister ruled out any change in the present set-up in Sindh and said the provincial government enjoyed the complete support of the federal government. He also dispelled reports of differences among ruling coalition partners.

“May be some people don’t like the urban-rural cooperation,” he said.

In reply to a question on the delay in expansion of the Sindh cabinet, Mr Jamali said the delay had nothing to do with so-called differences. Such an expansion would be made at an appropriate time. “First, we have to make the departments functional,” he said.

Mr Jamali announced that soon, at the insistence of the Sindh government, he would unfold development packages for Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur. He said incomplete projects would also be included in the packages besides new ones.

The prime minister acknowledged that there were difficulties in the maintenance of law and order in areas bordering Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan. He said the problem was discussed with the Sindh IG and it was agreed to meet the required logistical needs, such as vehicles, communication sets and creation of checkpoints in the area. He said the federal government would meet most of the expenses

When his attention was drawn toward the two resolutions unanimously passed by the Sindh Assembly on the NFC and the Greater Thal Canal, Mr Jamali said he had not yet received those resolutions.

He said he had directed National Reconstruction Bureau chief Danial Aziz to meet local government ministers and chief ministers of the provinces to resolve the local government issue.