By IRNA,
Islamabad : Top Pakistani and Indian diplomats Thursday agreed to work towards restoring confidence and trust with a view to making it possible to have comprehensive, sustained and substantive dialogue.
Foreign Secretaries of the two countries met in Islamabad and said later that they comprehensively reviewed their state of relations and modalities for restoring the trust and confidence.
Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said after the talks in Islamabad the two sides were engaged into useful and constructive talks which were also aimed at preparing for the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries next month in Islamabad.
He said their discussions covered all issues of concern and interest to the two countries and they adopted a forward looking approach.
The Foreign Secretary pointed out that the talks were held in the backdrop of meeting between Prime Ministers of the two countries in Bhutan where they had mandated engagement between foreign secretaries and foreign ministers.
The Foreign Secretary said in today’s meeting they have been able to accomplish this mandate in a most efficient manner. The talks have been marked by cordiality and sincerity.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao agreed that the talks have been cordial and constructive and useful in understanding each other’s position.
She said they agreed that dialogue is the best way forward. She said today they have been able to cover a range of issues to prepare for the meeting of the Foreign Ministers next month in Islamabad.
The Indian Foreign Secretary said, “We owe it to our people to chart out a course for normalisation of relations, narrow differences and embark upon a collaborative engagement”.
Responding to a question she said the issue of terrorism was also discussed. She pointed out that Prime Minister Gilani had assured his Indian counterpart that Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used for terrorist activities against India.
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said the two countries have been discussing ways and means to mutually cooperate in enhancing anti-terrorism cooperation. Interior Ministers of Pakistan and India would also meet on the sidelines of SAARC Interior Ministers’ Conference in Islamabad.
He told a questioner that all stakeholders in Pakistan are speaking from one page as for as talks and relations with India were concerned.
Asked why India was not agreeable for resumption of composite dialogue process, the Indian Foreign Secretary claimed that there was nothing in nomenclature.
The two countries have been expressing commitment to a serious, sustained and comprehensive dialogue and they are seeking to re-engage each other.
She said we should focus on the fact that dialogue is resuming between the two countries.