July 25, 2008	Friday	Rajab 21, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 24: Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said he is confident that all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, including the Kashmir dispute, will be resolved amicably.

He was talking to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who had called him on Thursday to congratulate him on winning a vote of confidence.

According to official sources, Mr Singh assured Mr Gilani of his cooperation for an amicable settlement of all outstanding issues, including Kashmir.

Mr Gilani said Pakistan attached immense importance to its relations with India and the two countries should strengthen cooperation to combat terrorism and extremism in the region.

“The present state of unrest in the region demands more cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism as both the countries are victims of this menace,” he added.

Mr Gilani said that Mr Singh’s triumph in the confidence vote was a “success of democracy” and such democratic norms must be encouraged in the region.

He told Mr Singh that he was looking forward to meeting him on the sidelines of the Saarc summit in Sri Lanka and that foreign ministers of the two countries might discuss various issues, including Kashmir, before that.