Islamabad: India and Pakistan should settle
their disputes, including the Kashmir issue, through dialogue
as brinkmanship only helps terrorists in keeping the two
countries "at bay", Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said
Tuesday.
Gilani made the remarks during a meeting today with former
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir "prime minister" Sultan Mahmood
Chaudhry.
He said that during his talks with his Indian counterpart
Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit in the
Maldives, both leaders had "agreed to the imperative of
settling their outstanding issues through peaceful means".
The premier said that while he and Singh were talking to
media in the Maldives, he had said both countries should
settle their disputes, including Kashmir issue, through
dialogue because in a "brinkmanship situation, terrorists
succeeded in keeping the two neighbours at bay".
Gilani said his meeting with Singh at Thimphu in Bhutan
last year had paved the way for resumption of talks between
the two countries as this was the "only way forward to settle
all outstanding issues, including the core issue of Kashmir".
"Pakistan would gradually increase trade with India and
while doing so, the interests of (domestic) industry would be
the sole consideration in the operational strategy that would
be evolved by taking all stakeholders on board," Gilani said.
Chaudhry called on the premier before embarking on a
three-week visit to the US and several European countries.
He commended Gilani for taking a "firm stand" on the
Kashmir issue with his Indian counterpart in the Maldives.
He also discussed with Gilani the proposal for creating a
joint chamber of commerce and industry for the two parts of
Kashmir to further facilitate trade across the Line of
Control.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 22:15