Islamabad: Pakistan wants resumption of the
stalled composite dialogue with India but "the vibes emanating
from the other side have not been encouraging," Prime Minister
Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday.
Gilani made the remarks while discussing the state of
Indo-Pak relations and the forthcoming Foreign Secretary-level
talks with visiting US Special Representative for Pakistan and
Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke.
Pakistan is committed to peace in the region and the
government is "making sincere efforts for resumption of the
composite dialogue process with India," Gilani said.
However, he "regretted that the vibes emanating from the
other side have not been encouraging."
Relations between India and Pakistan "should not become
hostage to the activities of terrorists," who are the common
enemy, Gilani was quoted as saying in a statement issued by
his office.
He said both countries "must address core issues,
including Kashmir and water disputes," for lasting peace in
the region.
Gilani and Holbrooke also held wide-ranging discussions
on various issues, including the major offensive against the
Taliban launched by the US-led forces in Afghanistan and
proposed US-Pakistan strategic dialogue.
The Premier hoped that the strategic dialogue would be
"scheduled expeditiously to discuss agreed components during
the first half of 2010" as had been agreed during US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton`s visit to the country last year.
Gilani "underlined the imperative of the strategic
dialogue for building trust to remove misperceptions or
misgivings prevalent on both sides."
On being briefed by Holbrooke and his team on `Operation
Mushtarik`, the new campaign launched by the US in
Afghanistan, Gilani expressed concerns about the "spill-over
of refugees and militants" from Afghanistan`s Helmand region
into Balochistan and North West Frontier Province in Pakistan.
He hoped these concerns will be kept in mind by US and
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) troops and
there would be enhanced coordination and cooperation with
Pakistani armed forces in this regard.
Referring to Pakistan`s burgeoning energy needs, Gilani
called for fast-tracking of dialogue in this sector to
mitigate the power shortage in the country.
He hoped that projects identified in the US strategy for
regional stabilisation would be implemented on a priority
basis.
Gilani also expressed concern about delay in disbursement
of money from the Coalition Support Fund and in the release of
aid to Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar Act, saying this was
adversely affecting the economy.
Holbrooke, who arrived in Islamabad after visiting Kabul,
briefed Gilani on the political situation in Afghanistan and
the operation against militants in Helmand province.
PTI
