August 10, 2008	Sunday	Sha’aban 7, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: Pakistan has stressed the need for striving for progress in bilateral disputes with India and moving from conflict management to conflict resolution.

“It is important to have in tandem progress in all segments, including bilateral disputes,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday during a meeting with a delegation of the Pakistan-India Track-II Diplomacy (Neemrana Initiative).

Neemrana is a non-official dialogue aimed at facilitating greater understanding between India and Pakistan through exchanges and discussions among experienced former officials of the two countries.

The foreign minister said there was progress in the composite dialogue and the two countries should take more confidence-building measures to resolve contentious issues.

“The composite dialogue has made a considerable progress towards confidence building, bilateral trade and people-to-people contacts.”

Mr Qureshi apprised members of the delegation of government’s efforts to carry forward the Pakistan-India peace process.

The foreign minister praised the forum for its efforts to promote better understanding between the people of the two countries.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed the hope that the forum would continue to come up with innovative ideas and options for moving the peace process forward.