News
Monday, September 10, 2012
Pakistan visit ‘very fruitful’: Krishna* Indian FM says his country wants to see Pakistan as a progressive and peaceful neighbour
Staff Report
LAHORE: Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, terming his visit to Pakistan “fruitful”, has expressed the hope that expected dialogues between leaders of India and Pakistan will be successful. He said India wanted a stable, peaceful and progressive Pakistan as its neighbour.
The Indian FM was talking to the media after his arrival at the airport on Sunday for a one-day visit to the provincial capital as the last leg of his three-day visit along with an 83-member delegation. Krishna held meetings with Punjab Governor Latif Khosa and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif during his visit. Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal also accompanied the visiting minister.
Krishna said, “It is my earnest desire and the desire of Dr Manmohan Singh, the prime minister of India, and the people of India that we would like to see a stable, peaceful, progressive Pakistan as our neighbour because that will be beneficial to the entire region.”
He said he and his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar had signed pacts on visa liberalisation and cultural promotion, which would help promote bilateral ties in future.
Talking about his meetings with President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and the FM in Islamabad, Krishna said he discussed bilateral issues and the signed pacts would help foster more friendly relations between India and Pakistan.
Later, Krishna separately called on Khosa at the Governor’s House and Shahbaz at the CM’s Secretariat and discussed matters of mutual interest. Khosa, while talking to the Indian delegation, said all disputes, including Kashmir, should be resolved through dialogues. He termed friendly atmosphere between both nuclear powers need of the hour and in greater interest of peace in South Asia.
After the meetings, Krishna left for Islamabad. Security was tightened across the city during Indian minister’s visit.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk