Islamabad: Pakistan today (Dec 13, 2003) termed as "not unrealistic" Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's suggestion of open borders and common currency in South Asia, but said the objectives could be achieved if problems like Kashmir were settled amicably.

It took a long time for the European Union to agree for the Euro, Pakistan Premier Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said reacting to the proposals put forth by Vajpayee at a conference in New Delhi yesterday (Dec 12).

"It is not so easy to do and will take time," Jamali told reporters on his return from a visit to France and Switzerland.

The ideas of open borders and single currency proposed by Vajpayee were not unrealistic, but a difficult path to tread and demanded hard work, firm resolve and sincerity, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told a private television channel.

The idea had to go a long way to materialise, he said.

An atmosphere of trust in South Asia could only be created with a just resolution of disputes among the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) countries, he said.

Before reaching such an agreement, the EU countries had resolved all mutual disputes to ensure co- operation at all levels, Khan said.

Observing that the resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people was imperative for peace in the region, he also underscored the need to end the arms race in the region.

PTI

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