NEW DELHI, May 24: Describing Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's remarks on improving Indo-Pakistan ties as very positive and forward-looking, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Aziz Ahmed Khan , has expressed the confidence that dialogue process would continue to discuss all outstanding issues between the two countries.

In a recent interview with Indian Channel NDTV, Pakistan envoy said: "We are very encouraged by all positive statements by all these Congress leaders and we feel that dialogue process will continue."

The foreign secretary-level talks on composite dialogue, he expressed the hope would be held as scheduled in the first half of June, this year. Replying to a query as how Pakistan viewed Manmohan Singh's appointment to the top slot, he said the prime minister is an internationally renowned economist, very well known in Pakistan as an architect of the economic liberalization programme.

"He is well respected, well known personality in Pakistan," Mr Khan added. Mr Khan said: "We are looking forward to carrying the dialogue process which had been agreed to earlier and to discuss outstanding issues with the Government of India."

He hoped that the road map, worked out by the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries in Islamabad in a meeting on Feb 18 last would be adhered to and all outstanding issues discussed.

In response to a question, he was of the view that the two countries would be able to reach agreement acceptable to India, Pakistan and to the people of Kashmir. Pakistan is approaching the peace process with a positive frame of mind, he added.

Replying to a question about indications by Congress for future discussions with Pakistan under the Simla Agreement and all subsequent agreements by Congress governments, he said, "all agreements which have been signed by the two countries are valid.

As far as Simla Agreement is concerned, it is very much there." Subsequent agreements and joint statements cannot be ignored, he added. The comments of Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Indo-Pak relations, he observed, were very positive and "we are all very encouraged by all these statements and feel that dialogue process will continue." Aziz Khan termed the remarks by Natwar Singh, who has been given the slot of external affairs Ministry, on Indo-Pak relations "very positive." -APP