By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Friday world pressure forced India to the negotiating table as the international community now realizes the importance of resolving the lingering Kashmir dispute.
He was addressing a meeting of the Pakistan-administered Kashmir cabinet on the Kashmir Solidarity Day, Online news agency reported.
Gilani said Pakistan had always sought resolution of the Kashmir dispute peacefully through talks and desired that the Kashmiris are made part of the dialogue process.
Gilani’s remarks came a day after it was made known in New Delhi that India sent a formal proposal to Pakistan for talks between their foreign secretaries and pledged to pursue the discussions with “an open and positive mind”.
New Delhi made it clear that the talks will focus primarily on counter-terrorism, but indicated “that other issues that will contribute to creating an atmosphere of peace and stability between the two countries will also be raised,” a well-placed source said in New Delhi Thursday.
“Dates are being discussed for the meeting between the foreign secretaries,” the source said, adding that it could happen later this month.