Pakistan on Friday welcomed India’s readiness for a broad-ranging engagement, saying both countries had agreed to finalise the calendar of meetings for talks on various conflicting matters on composite dialogue agenda, including the Kashmir problem. Commenting on talks between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said, “The bilateral summit in the Maldives has contributed to impel a seriousness of purpose to the process of engagement with both sides reaffirming their commitment to the pursuit of peace and discussing all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir in a result oriented manner.”
“Pakistan had positively evaluated the talks and welcomed India’s readiness for a broad ranging engagement. It had been agreed to finalise the calendar of meetings. Both sides had also agreed to convene technical working groups prior to the holding of Pakistan India Joint Commission,” Khar said, in a press statement issued by the Foreign Office. “Both leaders had noted that terrorism was a common problem. Instead of remaining mired in accusations and counter accusations, the real way forward was “cooperation”, she said.
“Interior/home secretaries had been mandated to discuss counter terrorism and counter narcotics. Pakistan’s Interior minister was prepared to visit New Delhi and was awaiting dates for the visit from India,” she said. Hina said Pakistan also awaited dates for the visit of the judicial commission from India. She said Mumbai, Samjhota and other terror-related matters needed to be addressed by both sides in the Interior/ Home ministries segment.
