ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Pakistan is making every effort to restore peaceful environment in the region and precisely for this reason Pakistani leadership sent a message of goodwill to Indian leadership, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said here on Friday.

“We are hopeful that India will come to the dialogue table for the settlement of all issues, including the core issue of Kashmir,” he said while talking to APP upon his return from a four-day official visit to India.

Sheikh Rashid said he delivered the message of goodwill from President Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali to Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee during his meeting with the Indian leader.

“I have given a short, sweet and smart message to the Indian leader,” he said.

Besides, he said, the Indian prime minister was also invited to attend the upcoming Saarc summit being held in Islamabad in January. The summit, he said, would prove to be a milestone in improving relations among the Saarc member states.

Appreciating the role of Saarc in regional cooperation Mr Rashid said the scope and membership of the regional grouping “needs to be further expanded.”

“The Saarc charter needs to be broadened by including in it discussions on political issues confronting the member states,” Sheikh Rashid said.

Countries like China and Iran may be given membership of this regional organization to enlarge its scope, he said.

He described the Delhi moot of Saarc ministers as “successful”, saying it provided ample opportunities to the participants to have direct interaction on issues of regional cooperation.

“It is a very effective platform to seek resolution of issues but its scope needs to be broadened,” he said.

The Indian premier had to delay his visit to Russia for the inauguration of the Saarc conference, he said.

Replying to another question, he said, though the Indian media had been hostile, every effort was made to avert any showdown on the occasion.

He said though APHC leader Syed Ali Geelani could not make it to New Delhi, he had the opportunity to meet other Kashmiri leaders. —APP