ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said his government is committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India.
He said that Pakistan wanted a just, peaceful and negotiated settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue.
The Prime Minister expressed these views while addressing the Indian Parliamentary delegation, which called on him at Prime Minister House here.
The delegation is currently on tour of Pakistan and holding exchange of views with their Pakistani counterparts under the banner of PILDAT.
The Prime Minister recalled his meetings with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in Sharm el Sheikh, Thimpu, Mohali and Maldives on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit.
Mentioning his visit to Mohali he undertook to watch a cricket match between Pakistan and India on the invitation of the Indian Premier, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that he met President of Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi and top Indian leadership.
The Prime Minister said that his interactions created an enabling environment paving the way for the meaningful dialogue process.
Earlier speaking on the occasion, Mani Shankar Aiyar, former Union Minister and leader of the Indian National Congress and Yashwant Sinha, former Union Minister and a BJP leader, thanked Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani for his warm hospitality at the Prime Minister House.
Uninterrupted dialogue can bring peace and stability in both countries on durable basis, which could entitle both Prime Ministers for Nobel Peace Prize, they stated.
They said the Indian Prime Minister had rightly said that Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani was a man of peace. The Prime Minister responded by saying that in the context of Pakistani politics, he was a man of crisis.
They said that they observed complete transformation in Pakistan in terms of friendly and hospitable environment in Pakistan as compared to their last visit in January 2011 last year.
They said that there was a vast potential of trade between the both countries that could touch the figure of $15 billion instead of the current $2 billion.
Pakistani and Indian Parliamentarians also handed over the joint parliamentary resolution to the Prime Minister on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said the government fully supports Parliamentary exchanges and he believed that enhancing people-to- people contact at diverse tiers is a key to deepening engagement between both countries.
Peace and stability in the region are, therefore, critical factors, essential for socio-economic development of the people, he added.
He urged the Parliamentarians of both sides to play a positive role in taking the peace process forward by reducing trust deficit and building solid foundation for peace.
“We appreciate the contribution of the civil society of both countries towards promoting the ideals of peace, harmony and friendship between Pakistan and India.”
The Prime Minister said peace can only be achieved by developing understanding and parliamentarians can play a key role in facilitating the dialogue process and conflict resolution in a just and fair manner on mutually acceptable terms.