Islamabad:
Describing terrorism as a ",common menace,", Pakistan on Wednesday agreed to fight it jointly with India and gave a commitment for maintaining ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).
After extensive talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the two sides also reported progress on Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek issues and expressed willingness to push forward the confidence building measures, including those related to Jammu and Kashmir.
The two sides signed an agreement for consular access to prisoners with a desire to address this humanitarian issue.
",We agreed that terrorism is a common menace and should be fought jointly,", Qureshi told a press conference after his talks with Mukherjee to review the fourth round of Composite Dialogue and set the tone for the next round to begin in July.
In this direction, he said the Joint Anti Terror Mechanism (JATM) will be activated so that terror incidents ",do not affect our ties.",
He referred to the Jaipur bomb blasts and condemned them ",from the heart because Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorism", with even former Premier Benazir Bhutto also falling victim to it.
On infiltration and firing at LoC, Qureshi said these would be checked in mutual interest. He said the ceasefire needed to be maintained and the tension kept to the minimal.
Mukherjee emphasised that the current dialogue process was based on three pillars, which include ensuring an atmosphere free of terror and violence.
",I found a strong willingness and desire on Pakistani side to move towards full normalisation of relations,", said Mukherjee, who met President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.
",Secure, stable and prosperous India and Pakistan are in our mutual interests and good for our relations,", Mukherjee said.
",The environment is positive,", the Pakistan Foreign Minister said.
Observing that there had been forward movement on various issues between India and Pakistan, Qureshi said, however, that ",progress", on the ",core issue", of Jammu and Kashmir has not been adequate.
Pakistan wants the Kashmir issue to be resolved as per the UN resolutions and considering the ",aspirations", of Kashmiris, Qureshi said, but added that Islamabad was ready to look at ",innovative ideas", to resolve the vexed issue.
",Jammu and Kashmir is an important issue. We need to make progress,", he said, adding that the ",aspirations", of Kashmiris have to be taken into consideration for ",durable and lasting solution",.
",Kashmir-related CBMs have benefitted and should continue but there has to be focus on the core issue and (the two countries should) move ahead with resolving it,", the Pakistan Foreign Minister said.
The dialogue should continue in the interest of both the countries as it has led to creation of ",better environment and lessened misunderstandings",.
Mukherjee said there are ",many areas of differences. We have to cover a long way and we are determined that nothing will come in the way to improve and upgrade our relations so that the two great nations of South Asia provide peace, stability and development, not only to the region but to the world.",
After extensive talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the two sides also reported progress on Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek issues and expressed willingness to push forward the confidence building measures, including those related to Jammu and Kashmir.
The two sides signed an agreement for consular access to prisoners with a desire to address this humanitarian issue.
",We agreed that terrorism is a common menace and should be fought jointly,", Qureshi told a press conference after his talks with Mukherjee to review the fourth round of Composite Dialogue and set the tone for the next round to begin in July.
In this direction, he said the Joint Anti Terror Mechanism (JATM) will be activated so that terror incidents ",do not affect our ties.",
He referred to the Jaipur bomb blasts and condemned them ",from the heart because Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorism", with even former Premier Benazir Bhutto also falling victim to it.
On infiltration and firing at LoC, Qureshi said these would be checked in mutual interest. He said the ceasefire needed to be maintained and the tension kept to the minimal.
Mukherjee emphasised that the current dialogue process was based on three pillars, which include ensuring an atmosphere free of terror and violence.
",I found a strong willingness and desire on Pakistani side to move towards full normalisation of relations,", said Mukherjee, who met President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.
",Secure, stable and prosperous India and Pakistan are in our mutual interests and good for our relations,", Mukherjee said.
",The environment is positive,", the Pakistan Foreign Minister said.
Observing that there had been forward movement on various issues between India and Pakistan, Qureshi said, however, that ",progress", on the ",core issue", of Jammu and Kashmir has not been adequate.
Pakistan wants the Kashmir issue to be resolved as per the UN resolutions and considering the ",aspirations", of Kashmiris, Qureshi said, but added that Islamabad was ready to look at ",innovative ideas", to resolve the vexed issue.
",Jammu and Kashmir is an important issue. We need to make progress,", he said, adding that the ",aspirations", of Kashmiris have to be taken into consideration for ",durable and lasting solution",.
",Kashmir-related CBMs have benefitted and should continue but there has to be focus on the core issue and (the two countries should) move ahead with resolving it,", the Pakistan Foreign Minister said.
The dialogue should continue in the interest of both the countries as it has led to creation of ",better environment and lessened misunderstandings",.
Mukherjee said there are ",many areas of differences. We have to cover a long way and we are determined that nothing will come in the way to improve and upgrade our relations so that the two great nations of South Asia provide peace, stability and development, not only to the region but to the world.",
