This Nepalese capital has of late become a favoured venue for India-Pakistan Track II diplomacy and US-based think tank Pugwash is set to host the next such meet here in December.

Pugwash has invited leaders from India's Jammu and Kashmir state and Pakistan-administered Kashmir to discuss issues relating to the disputed region at a three-day conference beginning here Dec 12, media reports said.

Several NGOs and think tanks have organised meets in Kathmandu on regional security, cooperation and relations between India and Pakistan.

Since Nepal is a neutral country, participants from India and Pakistan can gather without difficulties.

While the Indian government has not objected to previous Track II meets in Kathmandu, it remains to be seen if it will allow the planned meet next month since it is touted to have the participation of the separatist All Party Hurriyat Conference of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Nepalese government Sunday said it had no information about the conference, to be held at the five-star Hyatt Hotel in Kathmandu.
 
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat declined to comment on the event, saying the government had no information about it.

In June 2003, Delhi-based NGO Friedrich Ebert Stiftung had held a two-day regional conference on "India-Pakistan Confrontation 2003 and Future Prospects", which was attended by former army and government officials from India and Pakistan. 

--Indo-Asian News Service