December 6, 2003	Saturday	Shawwal 11, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 5: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali has said that relations between Pakistan and India are expected to improve, specially after Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee’s visit to Pakistan to attend the forthcoming Saarc summit.

“My government’s approach is positive and we want to normalize bilateral relations with India,” he said while talking to newsmen at the Parliament House.

In reply to a question, Mr Jamali expressed the hope that he would hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart during the Saarc summit being held in Islamabad from Jan 2 to 4, 2004.

“Since Prime Minister Vajpayee’s response on various issues has been positive, I do not rule out the possibility of holding bilateral talks with him,” he stated.

Mr Jamali said he saw some good signs to forge better relations with India.

The present Saarc charter does now allow raising or discussing bilateral issues on the six-nation regional forum. However, Mr Jamali said: “When we meet, we will discuss bilateral matters. Don’t worry about it.”

The prime minister said that the Saarc needed to be strengthened so that the condition of the common man in the region could be improved. He said India was Pakistan’s important neighbour and its positive approach would encourage all member states.

Mr Jamali expressed the hope that the confidence-building measures announced by both the sides recently would lead to improvement in bilateral relations.

Responding to a question, he said progress had been made in talks with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, and the proposed constitutional amendment bill would soon be introduced in the National Assembly.

“We would soon convene the National Assembly session in this connection,” he said.

In reply to a question, the prime minister said he did not believe in giving deadlines as he believed in “live-line”.

“But let me tell you that we are in the process of resolving our differences with the MMA and there is no deadlock between the government and the MMA,” he said, adding that the MMA leaders met PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Thursday which showed that both sides were serious in resolving the controversial issues.

Mr Jamali said resolution of differences with the MMA would help run parliament smoothly. He advised the ARD component parties to adopt a positive approach for strengthening democracy in the country.

“We will keep trying to convince our opponents to talk rather than opposing us on every matter,” he said.