Islamabad: Efforts between Pakistan and India are reportedly in full swing to set the stage for talks. According to Major General (retired) Jamshed Ayaz Khan, president of the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), "The atmosphere is now being set for substantive dialogue between the two countries.

"The high commissioners are in place, telephone conversation between the two premiers has taken place, and the world now looks forward towards a more peaceful and prosperous South Asia," he was quoted as saying by 'The News'.

"After the US-led attack on Iraq, the international system from South Asia perspective has undergone another transformation. The hope in the forthcoming dialogue has made it imperative that the interests of major powers and their policies toward South Asia be studied for their impact on the security and economic development of South Asia," he said.

He said the thaw in Indo-Pak relations has been welcomed by all and all across the world.

The institute will hold a seminar – Major Powers and South Asia – to discuss how much importance the major countries like the US, Russia, China, Japan and European Union give to South Asia." This interaction will hopefully set the ball rolling," Khan said.

Among the South Asian scholars invited are Uma Singh, Dr Anuradha Chenoy (from India), Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, Lieutenant General (retired) Kamal Matinuddin, Zubeida Mustafa, Dr Rasul Bakhsh Rais, ambassadors Mansoor Alam, Maqbool Bhatty and Najmul Saqib (from Pakistan).

ANI