Islamabad: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has hoped for meaningful talks with India when the foreign secretaries of the two countries meet in New Delhi Feb 25 - but has once again harped on Kashmir and the resumption of the stalled composite dialogue.
Pakistan wanted meaningful and result-oriented talks with India including the resumption of the composite dialogue, a news agency quoted Zardari as saying during a meeting with Pakistan`s High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik.
"Pakistan cannot ignore the core issue of Kashmir in talks with India and the entire nation and the government have a clear stance in this regard," he added, when Malik called on him Saturday to discussed matters relating to relations with India.
Sources said the president directed Malik to focus on making the talks result oriented and said all issues, including Kashmir and water, should be discussed.
The President said that good neighbourly relations were essential for the welfare of the people of both countries and also for fighting militancy.
India had suggested that the foreign secretary-level talks, the first since the 26/11 Mumbai that New Delhi blames on Pakistani terrorists, be held either Feb 18 or Feb 25.
On Friday, Pakistan accepted the Feb 25 date after a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
"The Pakistan side should raise all the core issues and press upon India for expeditious resolution through resumption of composite dialogue," a statement issued after the meeting said.
By implication, Pakistan clearly suggested that in its view, the talks do not constitute the resumption of the stalled composite dialogue process, something that it has been insisting on for the past week.
India has consistently said it is premature to talk about resuming the dialogue at the present moment and has made it clear to Pakistan that the foreign secretary-level talks are part of "a step-by-step incremental approach" and that Islamabad should "do more" to address New Delhi`s concerns over cross-border terror.
India has said that the talks would focus on countering terror but that other issues of mutual concern could also be discussed.
IANS
