Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s premier spy agency, is on board in peace process with India, and supports dialogue. “The days of fighting are over. The ISI and the army are part of the government and they are regularly consulted on the India-Pakistan dialogue. Everyone is on board, including the opposition,” Gilani said in an interview to Hindustan Times, published here on Wednesday.
Gilani, who was disqualified from the prime minister’s office for contempt of court, also praised the Indian prime minister’s role in improving bilateral ties. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is an honorable man and has the conviction to normalise ties. I took the initiative and met him and told him that poverty stricken nations like ours should focus on development and solve core issues. I also told him that if as neighbours we don’t talk, after the Mumbai attacks, then the terrorists will be the only beneficiary,” Gilani was quoted as saying by the Indian daily.
