News
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Gilani, Manmohan take forward dialogue process* PM Gilani terms talks with his Indian counterpart as positive
* Singh says both sides need permanent reconciliation to live together in dignity and honour
MOHALI/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday agreed to resolve all issues through dialogue and give their nations peace and prosperity.
The two leaders termed their meeting as “positive” as they briefed media about their daylong interaction since Gilani arrived in Chandigarh on Wednesday noon to join Singh to watch together the semi-final between their cricket teams in Mohali. The two premiers held brief talks during the match, as they used the fixture to promote better bilateral relations.
“The talks were positive, we discussed all the core issues,” Gilani told reporters in a brief chat after the meeting. The prime minister said his talks with Dr Singh on “all outstanding issues” focused on resolving them through dialogue. He said it was agreed to continue the “Thimpu spirit”, which had been a success since last year. He said the same spirit helped Pakistan and India to successfully conclude the interior secretary-level talks on March 28-29. He hoped that the upcoming commerce and foreign secretary-level and the foreign minister-level talks would also be a success.
The premier said there was a consensus on both the sides that the two countries had the will and ability to resolve their problems, and stressed the need for giving the world this positive message. “We need to focus on dealing with our common enemy – the issues of inflation, poverty, hunger, disease and unemployment for the prosperity of the two countries,” Gilani averred. He also invited Prime Minister Singh and Indian National Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, to visit Pakistan.
In his speech during the talks, Singh said the two countries should be working together to find cooperative solutions and need permanent reconciliation to live together in dignity and honour. “We should put our ancient animosities behind us to attend to the problems of our nations,” he said.
The premier thanked Gilani for his visit to Mohali, and said the wonderful game of cricket had turned into “a great opportunity for the two premiers to meet”. “The message from Mohali is that the peoples of India and Pakistan want peace,” he said.
Singh termed it a “very good beginning”, and said whatever the differences between Pakistan and India, the two governments had to find ways to resolve them. “It is our commitment to give peace to our nations,” the Indian premier avowed.
Addressing a news conference, India’s Foreign Secretary Nirumpama Rao said, “I think every such meeting between the leaders of the two countries generates an extremely positive momentum.” She said she would like to emphasise “this is re-engagement between India and Pakistan”.
Gilani took along with him a number of politicians, including parliamentary leaders and federal ministers, to Mohali, giving a strong message of a united nation. Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul, and Indian parliamentarians also joined the two leaders during the talks.
Earlier, Gilani and his delegation attended a dinner hosted by Singh as the cricket match continued until late night. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk