ISLAMABAD, March 5: The India-Pakistan peace process is likely to gain full momentum once the new government is in place and starts the fifth round of composite dialogue with India.

“We are expecting some very high-level visits,” Foreign Minister Inam-ul-Haque told newsmen on Wednesday while answering a question about the peace process during an informal chat after a function at the Foreign Office.

The foreign minister acknowledged that the peace process was currently progressing at a slow pace because of the limited mandate of the caretaker government.

Leaders of the main political parties have, in their post-election statements, expressed the desire to develop close relations with India in the interest of a durable peace in the region.

The foreign minister said that the two countries would shortly review the recently completed fourth round of the composite dialogue, which would lead to the beginning of the fifth.

On the issue of 36 bonded labourers being held in Iran, Mr Haque said: “We hope Iran would not countenance the holding of Pakistani bonded labour by anyone in Iran. We are confident that Iran would take all possible steps to ensure that all people held against their will are released very soon.”

He said the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group should welcome Pakistan back to its fold.