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Friday, April 01, 2011
Gilani-Singh meeting win-win situation for both countries: FO
* FO spokesperson says Islamabad looks forward to a meaningful progress in ongoing dialogue
* Country committed to a constructive engagement with India
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that the meeting between Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh and the cricket match in Mohali on Wednesday was “a win-win situation” for both the countries in the process of engagement.
Foreign Office spokesperson, Tehmina Janjua, said in her weekly briefing, “Islamabad looks forward to a meaningful progress in the ongoing dialogue.”
She said Pakistan did not underestimate the difficulties but it had faith and confidence for a bright future for the people of the region. “Pakistan is committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India,” she added. “The dialogue is the only way forward to move towards the goal of establishing good neighbourly and cooperative relations,” said the spokesperson, adding, “Pakistan wants to move towards a comprehensive and broad-ranging engagement with India on the basis of equality, mutual trust, mutual interest and mutual respect.”
Janjua further said the country was looking forward to a series of meetings that are envisaged between now and July. These would culminate in the meetings of the foreign secretaries and the foreign ministers of the two countries in New Delhi to take stock of the progress achieved, she maintained.
She pointed out that there were long-standing issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, that needed to be addressed earnestly, with a view to finding a solution that accorded with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.
In reply to a question, the spokesperson said the full spectrum dialogue would consist of all the eight segments forming the composite dialogue process. The foreign secretaries of the two sides would discuss peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts, she said.
Responding to another question, the spokesperson said the judicial committee dealing with the prisoners would meet the next month. She said Pakistan had expressed its readiness to entertain a visit by the Indian judicial commission on reciprocal basis in connection with the Mumbai attacks. Dates for visit of the judicial commission from Pakistan to India would be worked out through diplomatic channels, she added. To a question, she said that the issue of desecration of the holy Quran by an American pastor had been taken up at the highest level with the international community. She said apart from telephonic conversation between the presidents of Pakistan and Turkey, the country’s permanent representative at the United Nations had taken up the issue with the UN secretary general. “Our permanent envoy at Geneva has also raised the issue at the UN Human Rights Commission,” she added.
The spokesperson confirmed that an Indonesian national suspected to be involved in Bali bombing had been arrested. She said that the Indonesian High Commission would be given access to their arrested national and it was for them to identify the person. An invitation from Afghan President Hamnid Karzai to Prime Minister Gilani to visit Afghanistan had been received and dates were finalised, she said to another query. About the Libyan crisis, Janjua said, “Pakistan wants unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Libya.” app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk