ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has expressed the hope that Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will visit Islamabad to attend the upcoming Saarc Summit, saying a bilateral meeting with the Indian prime minister cannot be ruled out.

He was talking to newsmen here.

Referring to the possibility of a direct meeting with Mr Vajpayee, he said: “I would not rule that out. In any case we will receive him with full honour. We hope there would be reciprocal feelings of goodwill.”

Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali also reiterated the need for a dialogue with India.

“Pakistan will continue emphasizing the need for meaningful dialogue with India for resolving all the issues including Kashmir,” Prime Minister Jamali was quoted by the Associated Press of Pakistan as saying.

“Durable peace in South Asia region is necessary to ensure prosperity for its people,” Jamali said.

The Pakistani premier emphasized that he had taken the initiative regarding the unilateral ceasefire along the Line of Control besides proposing several confidence-building measures with utmost sincerity.

The main purpose, he said, was to establish peace and stability in the region.

Prime Minister Jamali downplayed India’s refusal to hold a composite bilateral dialogue with Pakistan, saying: “We are moving step by step. Rome was not built in a day ... We will achieve the (desired) goal in due time and talk to each other to resolve the core issue of Kashmir...”

He also expressed his optimism about the success of the peace move, saying: “This is what the peoples of India and Pakistan want.”—Agencies