News
Friday, June 25, 2010
Pakistan, India pledge new chapter in relations* Foreign secretaries vow to strive for sustained dialogue to get fragile relations back on track and to deny terrorists space to derail reconciliation process
* Bashir says both countries adopted a forward looking approach and discussed ‘all issues of concern’
* Rao says two neighbours should work for resolution of outstanding issuesBy Iqbal Choudhry
ISLAMABAD: Moving ahead towards a new phase in bilateral ties, Pakistan and India agreed on Thursday to open a new chapter in their relations to address all critical issues. Brushing aside the existence of the trust deficit, foreign secretaries of the two countries agreed to solve all outstanding issues through dialogue.
Addressing a joint conference with Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir at the Foreign Office, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the two countries have been expressing commitment to a serious, sustained and comprehensive dialogue to get fragile relations back on track and deny terrorists space to derail the reconciliation process.
“We were seeking to re-engage each other. The focus should be on the fact that dialogue was resuming between the two countries,” she told reporters after a detailed meeting with Bashir.
To a question, she said the two foreign secretaries also discussed the issue of terrorism and pointed out that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had assured his Indian counterpart that Pakistan would not allow its soil to be used for terrorist activities against India.
Joint effort: “We should jointly work together towards our goal of resolution of outstanding issues and also to deal with the dangers, threat and evils of terrorism,” Rao added.
However, Salman Bashir said the two countries adopted a forward looking approach and discussed all issues of concern and mutual interest. “I feel much more optimistic and confident for good prospects in terms of our relationship,” he added.
Move forward: To a question, he said the two sides also agreed to move forward from “rhetoric” in order to effectively cooperate to address the issue of terrorism.
Ruling out any differences between the civil and military leadership of the country on the issue of talks with India, Bashir said the leadership speaks from the same page.
However, on why India was not agreeing to resume the composite dialogue process, the Indian foreign secretary said there was nothing in the nomenclature.
“India desires a stable, prosperous and peaceful Pakistan and there is a constituency of peace in both the countries that wants better relations,” Rao said and pointed out it would be a protracted process and would take time as both sides need to learn from their past experiences.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk