Talking to media representatives here on Tuesday Mr. Qureshi said that that was what Pakistan had been calling on India to do all along.

He said this would help in building the right kind of environment for resuming the composite dialogue and ‘it would also mean a great deal for the people of held Kashmir who have suffered immensely because of troops presence in their midst for so long.’

The foreign minister, who had stopped over in London on his way back home after attending the G-8 foreign ministers conference in Italy said, both he and his Afghan counterpart presented their respective points of view on the situation currently prevailing in ‘our area.’

‘I also met the Indian foreign minister on the sidelines,’ he added.

Answering a question he said people no more ask Pakistan to ‘do more,’ ‘now they ask us what more could we do to help you.’

‘The world is now more supportive of our position. They have even agreed to give us counter-terrorism equipment,’ he claimed.

He, however, admitted that the issue of drone attacks still remained to be settled, ‘We are continuously pursuing the matter with the US. We tell them that that continued drone attacks caused national outrage in the country and fuelled anti-American feelings.’

Speaking about efforts to involve the region in the anti terrorism campaign he said Pakistan and Afghanistan have set up a number of trilateral groups to engage Iran, Turkey and Russia. ‘China is also helping us a lot in this respect.’

He said Pakistan has been taking up the issues of drug trafficking and gun running, at every international fora.

‘Proceeds from drugs trafficking financed the supplies of illicit weapons. We have asked the G-8 countries, the EU and US to help eradicate the drug menace and stop the smuggling of weapons into the tribal region.’

‘Nato which had always taken the position that poppy eradication was not part of its mandate in Afghanistan is now taking a more helpful view of the situation.’

He said not only Pakistan but many other countries were also opposed to the use of the term ‘Af-Pak,’ ‘France has publicly said it was opposed to the use of the term. Mr. Holbrooke defended the term by stating that it was being used for America’s domestic consumption and not to equate Pakistan with Afghanistan.’

He said the world has so far pledged $ 750 for the immediate relief of the IDPs and $250 billion for rehabilitation. Of this the US has pledged $330 million and the EU 170 million.

‘But then I am proud of the fact that it is the people of Pakistan have contributed the most so far. Almost 80 per cent of displaced persons are living in their relatives’ and friends’ homes.’

Answering a question about India’s refusal so far to resume composite dialogue, he said while he was as much saddened by what had happened in Mumbai last year as any Indian would be and condemned it roundly ‘one should not ignore the fact that Pakistan is bearing the worst of extremism.’

‘We must find a solution to the problem and it can be done only by engaging not by disengaging,’ he added.

Answering a question about the on going debate in the country over what is being seen by the members of foreign office as a wrong choice for the post of ambassador to France, the foreign minister said that in a democracy every one had a right to hold his or her own opinion on such issues and express them, ‘ I have been out of the country for some time so I do not know about the latest development in this regard but I am told the officers of the Foreign Office have decided to go to the court.

He implied that he had no problems with the course adopted by the FO officers as according to him in Pakistan ‘the courts are free’ and that he expected the court ruling would be acceptable to all the interested quarters.