Pakistan for result-oriented talks with India

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilanis meeting with Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh during his visit to watch cricket match at Mohali was a win-win situation for Islamabad and New Delhi in the process of their engagement. Islamabad looks forward to a meaningful progress in the ongoing dialogue, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tehmina Janju said in her weekly press briefing here on Thursday. The spokesperson said that Pakistan did not underestimate the difficulties but it had faith and confidence for a bright future for the people of the region. Pakistan is committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India. The dialogue is the only way forward to move towards the goal of establishing good neighbourly and cooperative relations, she said. The spokesperson said, Pakistan wants to move towards a comprehensive and broad-ranging engagement with India on the basis of equality, mutual trust, mutual interest and mutual respect. She said that Pakistan was looking forward to a series of meetings that were envisaged till July. These will culminate in the meetings of the foreign secretaries and the foreign ministers of the two countries in New Delhi to take stock of the progress achieved, she said. Janjua pointed out that there were long-standing issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir that needed to be addressed earnestly, with a view to finding a solution in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Replying to a question she said the full spectrum dialogue would consist of all the eight segments forming the composite dialogue process. The foreign secretaries of the two countries would discuss peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts, she said. To another question the spokesperson said that Judicial Committee dealing with the prisoners would meet next month. She said Pakistan had expressed its readiness to entertain a visit by the Indian Judicial Commission on reciprocal basis in connection with the Mumbai attacks. Dates for visit of the Judicial Commission from Pakistan to India would be worked out through diplomatic channels, she added. Responding to a question she said that the issue of the desecration of the Holy Quran by an American priest had been taken up at the highest level with the international community. She said apart from telephonic conversation between the Presidents of Pakistan and Turkey, Pakistans permanent representative at the United Nations had taken up the issue with the UN Secretary General. Our permanent envoy at Geneva has also raised the issue at the UN Human Rights Commission, she added. The spokesperson confirmed that an Indonesian national suspected to be involved in Bali bombing had been arrested. She said that the Indonesian High Commission would be given access to their arrested national and it was for them to identify the person. Replying to a question she said an invitation from Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Prime Minister Gilani to visit Afghanistan had been received and dates were being finalised. Answering a question about the state of US-Pakistan bilateral relations, the spokesperson said that conversations were taking place between the two countries on various issues. About the Libyan crisis, she said that Pakistans position was based on the UN Charter principles of respect for the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of any country. The fact is that we have extremely good relations with our Islamic and Arab brothers. We view any such situation through that prism, she added. To a question, she said that Peninsula Defence Shield was the result of agreements between GCC countries, adding that it was an internal decision of the GCC to send security personnel to help out Bahraini government restore peace and stability.

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