KARACHI, March 31: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said here on Wednesday that Pakistan had adopted a positive approach in its dialogue with India. "Our effort is to settle all issues, including the core issue of Kashmir, on the basis of equality."

He was talking to reporters at a dinner hosted by PML-F senator Justice (retd) Abdul Razzaq Thahim at his residence in honour of Pir Pagara. Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammed Mahar was also present on the occasion.

He reiterated that in talks with India, Kashmir will remain the core issue. The prime minister said a bill for National Security Council would be tabled before the National Assembly for approval. He said the country "cannot afford extremism and terrorism".

"It is our desire that extremism is stamped out from the country so that people could live in peace". He said the people trying to derive political mileage out of the Wana operation in fact wanted to create chaos in the country. Mr Jamali said the people were being updated on the Wana operation facts.

He said all the tribal people living in Wana were Muslims and there was no doubt about that. He said those who were making Wana an issue were themselves sitting abroad.

Replying to a question about the possibility of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan, he said the two could come back any time and face cases against them.

"We will have no objection if they are let off by courts in Pakistan." Answering another question, he said that five factions of Muslim League were to effect reunification. He told reporters that he had no differences with anyone, including Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. -APP