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Published 26 Dec, 2004 12:00am

Pakistan firm to take peace process forward: HC

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: Pakistan is committed to take forward the peace process with India and sees hope in the utterances of the Indian leadership for a similar approach, Pakistan's High Commissioner in New Delhi Aziz Ahmed Khan said on eve of the second round of the composite dialogue starting on Monday.

"There is a commitment from our side to be totally sincere and take the process forward. We are assured by the words of the leadership here that they are sincere in tackling all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir," Mr Khan told the Times of India a day before he left for Islamabad on Saturday to take part in the talks.

"The dialogue should be uninterrupted and uninterruptible and should aim to resolve all issues between us. Particularly at this moment in history when there is such a tremendous groundswell of goodwill at the popular level and a desire to genuinely live like good neighbours," Mr Khan said.

Over the next few days, secretary-level officials from the two countries will meet to hold talks on many issues, including trade.

"It is not easy to trade with India. Despite India giving us MFN status, 75-80 per cent of the trade comprises Indian exports. There is a huge imbalance, because of tariff and para-tariff barriers and subsidies in India. We have almost done away with subsidies in Pakistan," Mr Khan pointed out.

He said the two countries were moving beyond MFN, with Safta coming into force in 2006, "it's MFN-plus."

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