VIENTIANE, April 22: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Thursday that Pakistan and India had to sit together and settle all their outstanding disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir, to usher in an era of peace and stability in the region.
"Pakistan's relations with India are improving, but the two countries have to sit together as this is in the best interest of the entire region," he told newsmen here after holding meetings with the president of Laos and a delegation from the Lao Chamber of Commerce.
"We want good friendly relations with all our neighbours," Mr Jamali said, adding that Pakistan was in the process of settling the outstanding issue of Kashmir with India and was also assisting reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan as it desired peace in the region.
The prime minister announced setting up of a Laos-Pakistan business forum to encourage trade contacts between the two countries. He said modalities for the setting up of the forum would be worked out soon.
Replying to a question about Pakistan's commitment to the war on terror, he said: "Pakistan in fact wants to see the entire region free of any terrorism." He said it was Pakistan's earnest desire that all countries of the region joined hands in this war.
He said he has also given approval for establishing a consulate here to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two countries. He said a prominent Pakistani in Laos could be made the honorary counsel-general to speed up the process.
PAKISTANI COMMUNITY: Speaking at a gathering of the Pakistani community here on Thursday, Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali said that greater business interaction and people-to-people contact would help the people of two countries to reap economic benefits.
The prime minister said that his meetings with the Laotian leadership had been very useful as the two countries agreed to strengthen their relations. He said Laos was an important country of the region and an important member of Asean.
He said Pakistan desired close cooperative relations as it would be beneficial for the entire region. Members of the Pakistani community in their response highlighted the difficulties being faced by them in getting visas and passports. -APP
