The resumption of confidence building measures between Pakistan and India will take "some time" as bilateral ties have been affected after the Mumbai terror attacks, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday.
"We want good relations with all our neighbours, be it Iran, Afghanistan or India. We had very good relations with India but ties were affected after the Mumbai incident. The CBMs between us will have to be started once again (and) it will take some time," he told reporters in Karachi.
Asked about Pakistan's concerns regarding the sharing of river waters with India, he said this issue "will be taken up at the appropriate forums". He did not give details.
Recent reports have suggested that Pakistan could approach the International Court of Justice to address its concerns about the Kishanganga hydropower project being built by India in Jammu and Kashmir.
Asked about the concerns of the coalition partners of the ruling Pakistan People's Party on Talibanisation, Gilani said: "Certainly I share the concern because Talibanisation (or militancy or terrorism) is a threat for the country and we all have to fight extremism and terrorism jointly."
The federal government had adopted a policy of reconciliation and is "ready to talk to persons who surrender weapons, end militancy and take steps towards peace," he said adding, its strategy for tackling terror comprises political dialogue, development and deterrence.
Responding to a query on concerns expressed by the US about the situation in Pakistan, Gilani said Islamabad had convinced Washington about its resolve to fight terrorism.
However, Pakistan's "home-made policy" takes into account ground realities, customs, traditions, self-respect, dignity and sovereignty while making decisions, he said.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will visit the US next month with interior ministry chief Rehman Malik, the Inter-Services Intelligence agency chief and law enforcement officials to discuss Pakistan's policy to fight terror.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is also expected to visit the US in the first week of May to meet the top leaders of the American administration, Gilani said.
Gilani described the situation in SWAT - where President Zardari recently approved the implementation of Shariah or Islamic law - as "unique" because the government was committed to respect traditions and customs in the former princely state that merged with Pakistan in 1969.
The Awami National Party, which rules North West Frontier Province, is a "progressive party" that moved away from its own ideology and respected local customs by recommending the implementation of Islamic laws in Swat, Gilani said.
Dispelling concerns about the Islamic law system, he said everything would be done according to constitution and there would be provisions for appellate courts. The Nizam-e-Adl Regulation for enforcing Shariah was ratified as "80 per cent peace" had been restored in SWAT, Gilani said.
