Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan is committed to pursuing friendly relations with India on the basis of sovereign equality and resolving all outstanding problems, including “the core issue of Kashmir” to ensure a peaceful South Asia.
In a message of greetings sent to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on India’s Republic Day, Mr Gilani said, “I avail this opportunity to reiterate Pakistan’s strong commitment to pursue our desire to develop friendly relations on the basis of sovereign equality and commonality of interest”.
“We are also committed to resolving all outstanding issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir and water disputes, towards realising the vision of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia,” he said.
Mr Gilani added. “It is with pleasure that I convey, on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, our sincere greetings on the occasion of the Republic Day of India”.
The Pakistan Premier’s message came ahead of a meeting between the foreign secretaries of the two countries on the margin of a Saarc conference to be held in the Bhutanese capital during February 6-7. Foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is expected to visit India in March to push forward the peace process that has been stalled since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Also, foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that he would visit India to make bilateral negotiations. Talking to a Pakistani television channel, the foreign minister said he had a telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishan and extended felicitations over India’s Republic Day to him.
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Indian mission celebrates R-Day after 15 yrs in Pak
Jan. 26: The Indian high commission will host a special function in Pakistan’s financial hub of Karachi to mark the Republic Day for the first time in over 15 years in a bid to boost trade ties between the two countries.
Some 250 guests, including leading lights of Pakistan’s business sector, have been invited to the event, to be hosted at a five-star hotel in the southern port city on January 29. This is the first time the Indian high commission is hosting an event in Karachi to mark Republic Day since the consulate in the city was shut down in late 1994. High commissioner Sharat Sabharwal has visited the financial hub to build ties with the captains of Pakistani industry. —PTI