Islamabad: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani
Khar on Tuesday called for continuing the India-Pakistan dialogue
process in a "sustained, time-bound and result-oriented
manner" to decrease "mistrust" between the two neighbours.
Khar made the remarks during a meeting with Indian High
Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal, who called on her to discuss
bilateral relations and the dialogue process that was resumed
by the two sides last year after a gap of over two years in
the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
"Taking note of recent contacts between the two
countries, the Foreign Minister underscored the need for
continuation of the dialogue process in a sustained,
time-bound and result-oriented manner," said a statement from
Pakistan's Foreign Office.
Khar "emphasized that such contacts would be useful in
decreasing the mistrust and improving the atmospherics", the
statement said.
Sabharwal "expressed appreciation" for Khar's "efforts
and commitment to the dialogue process", the statement added.
India and Pakistan are expected to begin a fresh round of
their dialogue process in the near future.
The two sides have taken several steps to boost trade and
economic ties and Pakistan has announced it intends to give
India Most Favoured Nation-status by the end of the year.
However, the lack of progress in the trial of the
perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, including
Lashkar-e-Taiba operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi,
continues to be an irritant in bilateral relations.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 23:39