Speaking at a meeting of the contact group on Kashmir of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), here last night, Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz also asked OIC to appoint a special representative to "monitor and evaluate" progress of talks between New Delhi and Islamabad on Kashmir.

A memorandum, adopted by the group for submission to the full OIC meeting expected early next month, calls for appointment of a special representative in Jammu and Kashmir and urges the Security Council to initiate a process of mediation to "pave the way for holding a plebiscite".

It also asks the international community to put "pressure" on India to give full access to international human rights organisations to visit thestate.

Accusing India of initiating an arms race, Aziz said New Delhi's decision to cross the nuclear threshold was accompanied by "proactive" policy towards kashmir.

"Pakistan does not desire a nuclear arms race in South Asia. We are, however, determined to maintain peace and pursue our security in a nuclearised South Asia at all costs. We, therefore, cannot and will not compromise on our nuclear deterrent," he added.

Referring to the decision by Indian and Pakistani prime ministers to restart the stalled dialogue, Aziz called for "continued and effective" engagement of the international community, particularly OIC and UN in the Kashmir issue.

"Substantive and meaningful talks leading to just resolution of the Kashmir issue is an imperative that cannot be eschewed," he said.

Earlier, addressing the meeting, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Muhammad Umer farooq hoped that the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue would receive "the urgency and priority that the situation demands" in the Indo-Pakistantalks.

"With induction of nuclear weapons in South Asia, it has become all the more imperative to secure an early solution to this issue," he said.