Islamabad: Pakistan today (June 2, 2004) reacted cautiously to New Delhi's surprise call for a "common nuclear doctrine" for India, China and Pakistan saying the suggestion required "careful consideration" and could be discussed in detail at the expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs later this month.

"The suggestion by the Indian External Affairs Minister (K Natwar Singh) needs careful consideration," Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said, when asked to comment on Singh's suggestion that New Delhi, Beijing and Islamabad evolve a common nuclear doctrine to bring peace and stability in the region and the world.

Kasuri said nuclear Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) as a specialised subject required technical evaluation and the proposal could be discussed by experts of both countries in the talks to be held in New Delhi on June 19 and 20.