Military

Pakistan, India talks to remove mistrust, restore confidence

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, July 16, IRNA -- President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said that the resumption of composite dialogue between Pakistan and India will help remove mistrust and restore confidence in relations between the two countries.

Talking to the Indian External Affairs Minister, S. M. Krishna, President Zardari said that trade relations between the two countries would see a marked increase once the resumed dialogue process continues without any interruption, the President house said.

The President while referring to Pakistan’s fight against extremism said that terrorism is a common enemy and Pakistan is against militancy and terrorism in any form and in any location and both the Governments needed to work more closely for eliminating this menace, a statement said.

“The President stressed for timely information and intelligence sharing between the two counties to prevent any incident of terrorism and violence and that terror incident don’t affect our ties in the future”.

Zaradri said that destinies of the people of both Pakistan and India and development of the entire region lies in friendly, cooperative and good neighborly relations between the two countries.

Indian External Affairs Minister was accompanied by Nirupama Rao, Indian Foreign Secretary and Sharat Sabharwal, Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan.

The President, while appreciating the re-engagement between the two countries, said that heavy responsibility devolves on both Pakistan and India to have sustained dialogue and steer our nations from conflictual path to a cooperative course for the uplift and welfare of the region and people of the two countries.

Zardari said that the talks would also help resolve all outstanding issues including occupied Jammu & Kashmir, water, Sir Creek, Siachen and terrorism issues impeding the mutual cooperation.

He said that the water issue was becoming serious as it had adverse impacts on our agriculture and added that the Indus Water Treaty should be fully honoured and implemented.

The Indian Foreign Minister also conveyed to the President greetings of Indian Prime Minister,Manmohan Singh, the statement said.