PM Gilani talking to Indian Peace Delegation at PM House.-APP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that his government would like to continue to work with the Government of India to resolve all outstanding issues peacefully and in just manner.

“Wars are not solution, talks are the only way forward between Pakistan and India”, Gilani remarked while talking to the Indian peace delegation led by the famous Indian Journalist Kuldip Nayar that called on him here at the PM House on Wednesday.

Gilani appreciated the contribution of the civil society of both sides towards promoting the ideas of peace, friendship and development in the region particularly between India and Pakistan.

Gilani stated that the first priority of his government was the development and well-being of the people of Pakistan for which peace and stability in the country were critical.

The prime minister recalled his meetings with his Indian counterpart in Sharm El Sheikh in 2009 and in Thimphu in April last year and said that he fully believed in the sincerity of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for resolution of all the disputes between the two countries through the peace process.

He urged the politicians as well as media of both sides for their positive role in taking the peace process forward.

Gilani expressed his satisfaction on the resumption of dialogue between the two countries by noting that Interior Secretaries of the two countries will meet in New Delhi next week to take up terrorism, drug trafficking and humanitarian issues.

He emphasized the need for increased people to people contacts, exchange of parliamentary delegations and un-interrupted dialogue process to focus on the contentious issues and on promotion of trade, economic, intelligence sharing, sports and cultural cooperation.

The Indian peace delegation agreed with the prime minister that the misperceptions on both the sides need to be addressed through increased people to people contacts and parliamentary exchanges.

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