India seeks early resumption of talks with Pakistan
With the new government taking over in Pakistan, India has asked for an early resumption of the composite dialogue process that was stalled due to the political developments in Pakistan.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: With the new government taking over in Pakistan, India has asked for an early resumption of the composite dialogue process that was stalled due to the political developments in Pakistan.
In a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday night, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee discussed the possibilities of fixing up a date for a meeting to review the last round of the composite dialogue process. ���We have sought the resumption of the composite dialogue process...We will review it at an early date,��� said Mr Mukherjee who also congratulated Mr Qureshi for taking over as Pakistan���s new foreign minister.
Foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon is expected to go to Islamabad this month to review the progress made in the fourth round of the composite dialogue, which ended in October last year. This will be followed by the review meeting of the two foreign ministers where the fifth round of the process is also likely to be announced.
Mr Qureshi, according to a statement from the Pakistan foreign office, said Pakistan was ���proposing dates for holding the review meetings of the fourth round of the ongoing composite dialogue between the two countries���. The dialogue process covers eight areas including Siachen, Sir Creek, trade and confidential building measures.
Mr Qureshi, according to a statement from the Pakistan foreign ministry, also talked to Mr Mukherjee about the ���need and importance of peace and stability in the region for the common benefit of the peoples of the two countries.���
With positive signals coming out of Islamabad, New Delhi feels positive about Indo-Pak ties at this stage and does not feel that there will be any reversal of the peace process.
Before that Pakistan People���s Party chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that the government wanted to solve the Kashmir problem through dialogue and ���not just shadow-box��� with the issue.
In a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday night, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee discussed the possibilities of fixing up a date for a meeting to review the last round of the composite dialogue process. ���We have sought the resumption of the composite dialogue process...We will review it at an early date,��� said Mr Mukherjee who also congratulated Mr Qureshi for taking over as Pakistan���s new foreign minister.
Foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon is expected to go to Islamabad this month to review the progress made in the fourth round of the composite dialogue, which ended in October last year. This will be followed by the review meeting of the two foreign ministers where the fifth round of the process is also likely to be announced.
Mr Qureshi, according to a statement from the Pakistan foreign office, said Pakistan was ���proposing dates for holding the review meetings of the fourth round of the ongoing composite dialogue between the two countries���. The dialogue process covers eight areas including Siachen, Sir Creek, trade and confidential building measures.
Mr Qureshi, according to a statement from the Pakistan foreign ministry, also talked to Mr Mukherjee about the ���need and importance of peace and stability in the region for the common benefit of the peoples of the two countries.���
With positive signals coming out of Islamabad, New Delhi feels positive about Indo-Pak ties at this stage and does not feel that there will be any reversal of the peace process.
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Mr Qureishi in a television interview had said that Pakistan wants friendly ties with India and that there are ���signals of reciprocity��� from the other side. On the Kashmir issue, he sid that the government was looking for a ���just resolution������ of the issue.Before that Pakistan People���s Party chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that the government wanted to solve the Kashmir problem through dialogue and ���not just shadow-box��� with the issue.
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