ISLAMABAD, June 9: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has expressed the hope that the Indian leadership would agree to resolving all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir, through talks.

“I sincerely hope that the leadership in India would see reason and agree to resolving all outstanding bilateral issues with Pakistan, including the Kashmir dispute, through talks in the interest of the people of the two countries as well as for the sake of a peaceful, stable and forward looking South Asia,” he stated in an interview published in the Khaleej Times on Monday.

On its part, he said, Pakistan would persist in its endeavours to create a peaceful and prosperous South Asia through a peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, which divided the two countries.

Mr Jamali said in reply to a question that he would lead the Pakistani delegation at the summit with India.

“Yes, I will be leading. The mechanics have to be worked out. We are inching towards a rapprochement step by step.”

The prime minister said a few steps had been taken by Pakistan and a few by India.

He said Pakistan was not hostile to any other country and did not expect anyone to be hostile to it. He underlined that the key issue of Kashmir remained there as a principal issue.

“If other countries can come together and talk among themselves, why can’t India and Pakistan do so?

“As far as a meeting with the Indian prime minister is concerned, I have invited him to Islamabad. I have also offered to travel to New Delhi in the interest of peace.

“For us peace is the topmost priority. Venues of the meeting are not important. Holding meetings at the summit level between India and Pakistan will send the right signals down the line and lead to normalization of relations,” he said.

The prime minister said Pakistan was conscious that continued tension between the two countries had adversely affected socioeconomic development of South Asia.

Poverty, unemployment, disease, illiteracy and malnutrition were among the main challenges confronting the countries, he said and added that nearly half of the world’s poor — approximately 515 million — lived in South Asia.

In reply to a question, he said there was no US pressure on Pakistan.

The prime minister said that if all went well, “we should be able to resume our rail, road and air links before the year is out.”

Prime Minister Jamali told the newspaper that Pakistan would continue with its demonstrated resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. “Terrorism has no religion. Islam is synonymous with peace and it will be a mistake to associate it with terrorism or extremism,” he said.

He felt that Pakistan being a moderate Islamic state could form a bridge between the Muslim and the Western countries.

Mir Jamali said Pakistan’s foreign policy was rooted in its national interest.

The decision to offer support to the United States in the fight against terrorism was mutually beneficial and in Pakistan’s national interest, he maintained.

In reply to a question he said the new wave of attacks showed that there was a continuing threat from the terrorists.

“This is quite alarming. There is need for enhancing international coordination and vigil at the national level to deal with this threat.”

He said about 500 terrorism suspects had been apprehended by Pakistani security forces since Sept 11, 2001. The arrests of top Al Qaeda activities like Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Abu Zubaida and Ramzi bin Al Shibh were major achievements, he said.

The prime minister said Pakistan’s fraternal ties with the United Arab Emirates were characterized by cordiality, warmth and mutual trust.

“My country, my people, and myself in particular have the highest regard for the UAE President His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The two countries have an abiding interest in each other’s welfare, prosperity, security and stability.

He expressed the confidence that Pakistan-UAE relations would grow and be consolidated in the years ahead.

“My government endeavours to further enhance relations in areas like trade, defence and security fields to bring these in consonance with the excellent ties and mutual goodwill that exists between the two countries,” he said.—APP