ISLAMABAD, May 6: Pakistan on Tuesday made an unconditional offer of dialogue to India and proposed six steps as part of the confidence-building measures, including immediate resumption of air, rail and bus links and exchange of high commissioners between the two countries.

“There is no precondition from our side and I sincerely hope that this time both the countries will hold positive talks to resolve all outstanding issues, including that of Kashmir, peacefully,” Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali said.

Speaking at a news conference at the Prime Minister’s House, he also announced release of all Indian fishermen, who included 22 Sikh youth and the 14 crew members of an Indian cargo boat “Raj Laxhmi”.

“We have come up with new proposals because we think that the people of India and Pakistan are not at war and they must be favoured by allowing them to freely travel to each other’s country.”

In addition to the exchange of two high commissioners, the prime minister also proposed restoration of full strength of missions at the two respective capitals. Resumption of sporting ties was also included in the announcement made by the prime minister.

“In order to give an impetus to Saarc to make it a more effective regional body, I have decided to place additional 78 items on the positive list. It is my hope that this will clear the way for a more meaningful Saarc role for the promotion of regional trade,” he said. Responding to a question, Mr Jamali said senior government officials from both the countries could now sit and formally decide about the six steps that he announced for improving relations between the two countries.

He said he would wait for some positive response from India to undertake the process of dialogue between the two countries. “I would again say here that if the Indian prime minister is facing some difficulties to come to Pakistan, I am ready to travel to New Delhi,” he added.

The prime minister pointed out that Pakistan would soon approach the Saarc secretary-general to ascertain the convenience of the member states for convening the 12th Saarc summit in Islamabad well before the end of current year.

“Pakistan is also willing to host the SAF games as soon as possible,” he said, hoping that the Indian leadership would take into account the current crucial timing to resolve differences as early as possible.

The prime minister pointed out that he was encouraged by the recent positive developments, “and this is my hope that India would seize the moment, put aside the acrimony of the past and purposefully move forward with Pakistan to peaceful resolution of all issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir”. Such a commitment, he believed, was in the interest of harmony and stability in the region and for the prosperity of its billion-plus people.

“We should begin talks from where they were left off at Agra and work out an agenda for a tiered dialogue, including summit-level interaction,” Mr Jamali said.

The prime minister said he was very happy to say that he had held fruitful discussions with all the political parties and developed a consensus on holding talks with India.

In reply to a question, he said he hoped this time hard-liners in the ruling BJP would not scuttle peace initiatives as was done in Agra. “During my phone call to Prime Minister Vajpayee on April 28, I sensed a positive desire on his part to break the impasse in our relationship and to take steps which would lead to improved relations between Pakistan and India,” he said.

The prime minister said the entire international community was watching with hope the movement towards a future of peace, security and prosperity in south Asia.

“But this would be very unfortunate if the hoax and extremist elements once again succeed and fail our efforts to resolve all issues peacefully,” he said.

He told a reporter that he had sent a formal invitation to his Indian counterpart to visit Pakistan.

The current global situation, the prime minister said, was marked by several challenges facing the international community. “It is our duty to deal with these challenges collectively and constructively. The fight against terrorism is a case in point.” He said Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and would continue to cooperate with the international community to eliminate this scourge. Of equal importance, he said, was the promotion of regional peace and security in regions suffering from tensions and unresolved conflicts.

The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan at every stage, would keep in mind the interests of the Kashmiri people. “Their interests will be of supreme importance.”

He was asked how could there be any positive talks when India continued to say that Pakistan would have to first end “cross-border terrorism”. “Our position on this issue is very clear,” he said without elaborating.

Asked whether there was a complete understanding between the government and the army on talks with India, the prime minister said the government, the opposition and the armed forces shared similar views on the subject.

To a question, he said there had been many efforts in the past to remove differences between the two countries. In this behalf, he mentioned former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s signing of the Lahore Accord and the late president Ziaul Haq’s cricket diplomacy.

“But let me tell you that there is nothing which is happening instantly with regard to India-Pakistan relations,” he said, adding that preparations were being made for a long time, including by the international community to broker peace between the two countries.

Asked whether Pakistan had stopped talking about the UN resolutions on Kashmir, he said Pakistan had not changed its position on any issue but was only trying sincerely to remove its differences with India peacefully. He said Pakistan would show flexibility during talks with India.

To a question, he said US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage was visiting India and Pakistan to facilitate talks between the two countries. “But what agenda he was bringing I do not know and you better ask him when he will be here.”