Islamabad: Pakistan today (Feb 09, 2004) said that the three-day official level talks between India and Pakistan beginning from February 16 would focus on agenda, structure of the dialogue and address the future course of action to be taken by both the countries.

"Since they are resuming talks after a long time, they will have to look at agenda and structure of talks and future course of action," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said.

He said that Pakistan has high hopes of success of the talks, which would begin, at the level of joint secretaries on Feb 16 and 17 followed by Foreign Secretary-level talks on Feb 18.

He said that both the countries would hope "to define the ground rules and prepare our nations" for more comprehensive and substantive talks.

"We have to see the ambit of these talks and their scope. We have to zero in and focus on the most important issue, Jammu and Kashmir. We have to sit together and negotiate.

"Hope this round of talks would be successful and pave the way for other rounds in which we can focus more substantively on outstanding issues," he said while answering a question.

Asked about the participation of Kashmiris in the dialogue, Khan said Kashmiris at this point of time were not associated with the dialogue. But the "essence" of the talks would be to discuss the Kashmiri people.

"The most important thing to be addressed is to how to ascertain the wishes of Kashmir people and how to create an atmosphere guarantee the protection of Kashmir people. It should be done in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people," he said.