Indo-Pak nuclear talks postponed

New Delhi Sunday conveyed its decision to Islamabad to delay the talks, which had been scheduled to start Tuesday, a foreign ministry statement said.

"The government of India has requested us for the postponement of the talks on nuclear CBMs (confidence-building measures) because, as a result of the recent transition in leadership, an external affairs minister of India had not yet taken office," it said.

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Senior foreign ministry officials of the nuclear-armed neighbours were to discuss the confidence building measures on May 25 and 26.

The nuclear talks were scheduled under a calendar of activities agreed during the outgoing government of Atal Behari Vajpayee.

India has proposed that the nuclear talks could be held two days before foreign secretary level talks, without giving an exact date.

Under a timetable prepared by the two countries on February 18, the foreign secretaries are to meet in June for talks on Kashmir and security issues.

Foreign ministers are slated to meet in August to review progress.

Foreign office spokesman Masood Khan last week said the talks would focus on "strategic stability, crisis management and nuclear risk reduction."