NEW DELHI, March 29: Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had a 45-minute meeting with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here on Tuesday that ended with a joint pledge to make every effort to settle all disputes between the two countries, including Jammu and Kashmir. Chaudhry Shujaat also called on Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

During his meeting with Mr Singh, Chaudhry Shujaat underscored the need for statesmanship to deal with tough issues. He said political leadership on both sides had to take ‘bold and unpopular decisions’ to address outstanding disputes.

The Indian prime minister responded in a lighter vein: “Before we can try and become statesmen we have to live long enough in government.” He observed that Pakistan and India needed to create a brave new world and said: “It is a historic opportunity and we can make a difference”. Mr Singh said he was looking forward to President Musharraf’s visit to India next month. “We are looking forward to meeting and welcoming and renewing contact with General Sahib. We can work with General Musharraf and we know he is committed to peace and resolution of all issues.”

When Senator S.M. Zafar, who is in the PML delegation, raised the Baglihar issue, Dr Singh held out the assurance that as the prime minister he was committed to the Indus Waters Treaty. He stressed that all outstanding issues ought to be resolved through bilateral means.

The prime minister agreed with the view that war was no longer an option and disputes had to be resolved through dialogue and reiterated India’s commitment to the composite dialogue process.

The PML delegation pointed out that despite the change in atmosphere and thinking on both sides, total normalization of relations was not possible without the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

The two sides agreed it was important that governments in centres as well as in states and provinces of the two countries kept contact with each other. In this context the recent meetings between the chief ministers of Indian and Pakistani Punjabs were mentioned. It was emphasized that people-to-people contacts strengthened the quest for peace.

Before the meeting ended, Chaudhry Shujaat and Prime Minister Singh also talked one-to-one for about five minutes.

During Chaudhry Shujaat’s meeting with President Kalam, views were exchanged on a number of issues, including the arms race in the region, the nuclear factor, the Baglihar dam dispute and potential for joint cooperation in various fields.

Mr Kalam said the nuclear factor was now a reality in South Asia and there was need to devise ways of managing it responsibly. He said India’s nuclear programme was based on two pillars, one was no-first use and the other was global disarmament.

The Pakistani delegation stressed the need for peace and security in the region and stopping the arm race.

PML secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed asked the president if being the father of India’s nuclear and missile programmes he had any regrets given that he considered poverty the number one enemy to which the arms race had contributed.

“It is a beautiful question,” said the Indian president. In response to a question about the Baglihar dispute, President Kalam read out a typed brief to explain India’s position on the matter. The Indian president said he was looking forward to President Musharraf’s forthcoming visit. President Kalam presented to the PML president two of his books.