President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf told India’s External Affairs Minister SM Krishna in separate meetings on Friday that Pakistan had an abiding interest in promoting peace and stability in the region, as they urged amicable solutions to resolve outstanding disputes between the two neighboring countries.
During his meeting with Krishna at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Zardari said that Pakistan had an abiding interest in the promotion of regional peace and stability that would only enable the people of the region to exploit enormous opportunities available in South Asia. Zardari said that finding amicable and just solutions to resolve outstanding issues was important for Pakistan and India to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.
Briefing the media about the meeting, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the president had emphasized that it was time for the two countries to move beyond reiteration of their positions to more substantive results. The president said that showing greater understanding for each others’ concerns and sensitivities would help in the resolution of mutual issues. Zardari said that multifaceted cooperation between the two countries was imperative for the socio-economic development of the people and to cope with the common challenge of terrorism. He said that terrorism was a common enemy afflicting both the countries. Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf also met Krishna at the PM’s House on Friday evening. During the meeting, the prime minister expressed the confidence that relationship between Pakistan and India would improve and move forward. He said that the Indian external affairs minister’s visit was of great importance, as the people of both the countries desire good relations. “We must learn from the past. We cannot change neighbors,” Ashraf said. “No doubt Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and other issues need to be resolved, but we need to have a positive approach to resolving these issues,” he emphasized. He said that terrorism was a common enemy of both India and Pakistan, adding that Pakistan was a frontline state in the war against terror and had suffered enormously.
Krishna thanked the prime minister for the meeting, and said that India was committed to the stability, peace and prosperity of Pakistan. He said that the revival of the Joint Ministerial Commission between the two countries after six years would send a strong message that “we mean business”. After his arrival in Islamabad, the Indian minister held separate meetings with delegations of various Pakistani political parties, including the Awami National Party delegation led by Haji Adeel, Muttahida Qaumi Movement delegation led by Farooq Sattar and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid delegation led by Mushahid Hussain Sayed.
