Exclusive: Interview with Pakistan Foreign Minister

Thimpu: Full transcript of the interview with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmud Qureshi in Thimpu:

NDTV: Will there be an India-Pakistan meeting when both PMs are in the same place?

Ans: I think its for the Indian leadership to declare what it wants. Pakistan has never shied from engagement with India we have consistently held view that dialogue only way forward. Pakistan has always been keen for meaningful, sustainable engagement. It seems that the political environment within India is compelling pm Singh not to move in the direction that his heart wants to move in. I think he is positive, he is a visionary, he wants to move on, but I think he is not getting, in my view, the support that should be given to him both within his party and from the opposition.

NDTV: We saw Pakistan hand over dossier on weekend, they have been going on back and forth. This time around, do you think that Pakistan making request for access to Kasab or investigating officer etc is a sign of some movement from the Pakistan side?

Ans: Pakistan is serious, Pakistan wants to move on, Pakistan recognizes that terrorism is a global regional challenge. We are victims of terrorism. People in India are not in tune with Pakistan's changed circumstances. We have a democracy today, we have changed political opinion. Public opinion has moved dramatically against terrorism and extremism. Look at the consensus that has emerged within Pakistan. You are not being able to seize the opportunity.

NDTV: Do you think there has been progress on the Mumbai investigations though on the Pakistan side?

Ans: believe you me Pakistan is serious, Pakistan has moved, it wants to move. But you understand there is a process, a legal process. We have to live within that process, but we would like to take this trial to its logical conclusion. The fact that we have been responding to dossiers, asking for more information, is in fact a reflection of our intention to move on.

NDTV: Have you heard back from the Indian side or is it too soon?

Ans: I think for the first time the way we have exchanged information, I look at it positively, this is unprecedented this has never happened before. The way we have helped each other trying to unearth and to find leads that take us to the logical conclusion

NDTV: But on the question of resuming dialogue the deadlock still remains over this issue where the 2 don't see eye to eye on the resumption

Ans: I think India is stuck in a groove . Undoubtedly what happened in Mumbai was tragic there are no two opinions on that, but we have had several Mumbai's in Pakistan. By disengaging with Pakistan who are you helping? You are following agenda of terrorists you are playing to their tune.

NDTV: So if the two leaders meet can one expect any movement forward? We saw the handshake in Washington earlier this month, can we expect something more substantial?

Ans: I think people of south Asia need more than a handshake. They need in my view a substantial, sustained meaningful engagement

NDTV: so you think the Indian side needs to be more forthcoming if they meet tomorrow?

Ans: Well if there is a meeting that does take place, I am not sure, haven't heard anything official. I would want that meeting to be substantial, result oriented, and forward looking. Charting a way forward. It's not just reiterating same positions. What happened in Feb when FS met both sides' reiterated positions... that is not going to help? we have to think out of the box we have to look forward because challenges facing region are huge- challenge of climate, poverty, illiteracy, etc cant we work together.. Terrorism, can't we pool in our resources to fight terrorism? I think it's a lost opportunity.