PM Gilani, Manmohan eye future progress at talks
10 November, 2011
ADDU: Pakistan and India Thursday agreed to continue their interaction at all levels and to discuss every issue including core issues especially Kashmir, terrorism, trade and decided to start a new chapter in the history of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Talking to media, after the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and his Indian Counterpart Manmohan Singh along with two foreign ministers, announced that talks were the only way forward and the two countries had decided to have more interaction at all levels in future.
Pakistan and India on Thursday agreed to further expand their interaction at all levels to improve their bilateral relations especially in trade, economic, people to people contacts besides more cooperation to fight terrorism and terrorism for promoting peace, security and development in the region.
PM Gilani was assisted by the other members of the delegation including Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Communication Minister Dr Arbab Alamgeer, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Gauhri.
The bilateral talks between the two prime ministers began at delegation level and then both the PMs had one-on-one meeting for some time before starting delegation level talks again.
Prime Minister Gilani in his statement along with Indian Prime Minister said, "We met today and decided to resume the dialogue process."
He said the dialogue process was moving in positive and right direction. He said they discussed all the issues including the core issues and there was open and candid discussion.
Gilani said all the issues including Kashmir, terrorism, Sir Creek, Siachen, water, trade were discussed. He added that Indian Prime told him to put all the cards on table to have open discussion.
The prime minister expressed the hope that next round of talks between the two countries would be more constructive and open and would open a new chapter in the history of two countries.
He said he thanked India for supporting Pakistan in the election to the Security Council and to get trade access in the European Union.
Singh while taking to media following the meeting said there has been positive progress in the dialogue process between the two countries which was resumed last year following his meeting with PM Gilani in Thimphu on the sidelines of previous SAARC summit.
Singh said there was need to move and work closely with coordination to ensure peace and security in the region.
He said it was obligatory for the two countries to work together so that the work done due to the dialogue process could not be spoiled.
He said, "We have wasted a lot of time in acrimonious debate, we will write a new chapter."
He said people of Pakistan and India were very closely linked. He said the era of accusations and counter accusations should be over now.
He said Commerce Secretary of two countries will meet in New Delhi on November 14 while later on there will be meeting between the home secretaries of the two countries in December that indicates progress in the dialogue process.
He said the Joint Ministerial Commission constituted in 2005 will resume its function to have more interaction in different fields.
Manmohan said: "We have extensive discussion on all issues and bilateral matters and it remained very positive." He said, "We have decided that all issues will be discussed with sincerity."
The Indian PM said it was time to start new chapter in the history of Pak-India dialogue process and expressed the hope that the next round of bilateral talks would be more result oriented and bring the two countries closer.
Recalling his meetings with Prime Minister Gilani in the past in Mohali, Sharmul Sheikh and especially in Thimphu, Bhutan, the Indian premier said, he has always believed "Mr Gilani is a man of peace and that belief has been strengthened in the last three years."
He said as dialogue continues, he was confident that all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan will be "discussed with sincerity."
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