Resumption of dialogue soon with Pak, says Mukherjee

With the establishment of new democratic set up in Pakistan, India has asked Islamabad to resume composite dialogue that was stalled last year owing to political developments there.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in a telephonic conversation with his counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi to felicitate him on the appointment also discussed the possibilities of scheduling their first meeting to review the last round of the composite dialogue process.

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Both agreed to hold talks as soon as possible.

“We have sought the resumption of the composite dialogue process...We will review it at an early date,” said Mukherjee.

As per the media sources in the statement issued from the Pakistan Foreign Office, Qureshi stressed the need and importance of peace and stability in the region for the common benefit of the peoples of the two countries.

The review meeting of the two foreign ministers where the fifth round of the dialogue is expected to be announced will be held at an early date followed by the foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, who is expected to visit Islamabad this month to review the progress made in the last round of the composite dialogue stalled since October last year.

The relation between the two countries-India and Pakistan started improving in April 2003 and the composite dialogue process boosted cooperation on fighting terrorism and re-establish diplomatic, transport and sporting relations. The composite dialogue process involving several issues comprising Jammu and Kashmir initiated in 2004.

The sector-wise meetings during fourth round were concluded in last October leaving the Foreign Secretary-level meetings to review the progress made in that round and setting schedule for the fifth round. But, the process was hampered owing to emergency imposed by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

India had said the structured dialogue with Islamabad would be taken up after democratic set up through an elected government.

Pakistan would now propose dates for the meetings that would conclude the fourth round. The resumption of talks follows Pakistan's much awaited Feb 18 elections for the constitution of the democratically elected government since Musharraf took power in a 1999 coup.

Earlier the contradictory statement were issued by the Pakistan People’s Party chairman Asif Ali Zardari when he stressed on improving relations with India instead of paying attention on Jammu and Kashmir issue. While the newly appointed Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani as Pakistan Prime Minister stressed on the Kashmir issue to be remain as prime agenda between the two countries. However, after his appointment optimistic statements have been issued on the peace process from the two sides.