Monday, November 14 2005 18:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan has said it would push for full membership in SAARC for China, for which the just-concluded summit in Dhaka has favored inclusion as an observer.

"If and when the issue of inducting China as a full member comes up in SAARC, Pakistan would strongly support it because it sees the organization as an inclusive one which must be strengthened by greater institutionalization," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was today (Nov 14, 2005) quoted as saying by local daily The News.

There was no deadline to push for full-fledged membership for China in SAARC, Aziz said.

Pakistani officials claimed credit for Pakistan and Nepal for almost getting Observer status for Beijing and accused India of 'blocking' it.

The media here projected the move as an attempt by Pakistan to bring in China as a counter-weight in SAARC to neutralize 'Indian domination.'

Aziz described as 'historic' the decision by the 13th SAARC summit in Dhaka to include Afghanistan as full-fledged member and China and Japan as observers in the regional grouping.

"The expansion of SAARC would have a major impact and would increase its importance and influence", he told reporters on board the aircraft while returning home from Dhaka, claiming that the formulation was prepared by Pakistan officials.

He said the expansion would enhance SAARC's stature as a major regional grouping.

As the SAARC charter did not have terms of reference with regard to admission of countries with Observer status, a committee will soon be formed to firm up the guidelines, he said.

State-run APP news agency reported that a deadline of 90 days had been set up to form the terms of reference at the instance of Aziz during his talks with other leaders at the just-concluded 13th SAARC summit.

Apparently referring to reports that Pakistan was not keen to support Afghanistan's application for membership, which was firmly backed by India, Aziz said Islamabad fully supported Kabul's bid.

On China and Japan, he said the two countries were playing a major role in Asia and underlined the importance of associating them with the SAARC.

Aziz said inclusion of Afghanistan would not have any effect on Pakistan's policy of no-transit for Indian goods to that country through land routes.

"We have not restricted transit of Indian goods to Afghanistan through the Karachi port and only land route was not available", he said adding the issue was linked to a bigger issue of Pakistan, India paradigm of relationship.

"Our policy on this issue is to protect our own priorities it is part of that bigger issue," he said.