Pak-India dialogue only way forward; Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said dialogue between Pakistan and India was the only way forward to address all outstanding issues between the two countries. He was talking to Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani here at the President House after his return home, from a day-long visit to India to witness the cricket semi-final and meeting his counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh.The Prime Minister briefed the President about his visit and his discussion with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi and also about the talks in New Delhi between the Interior Secretaries of the two countries. They expressed satisfaction over the resumption of talks. The President welcomed the meeting of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani with the Indian leadership and termed it “a positive development” for the region.He expressed the hope that it would provide further impetus to the efforts for a meaningful dialogue between the two countries on all outstanding issues.The President also appreciated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for extending invitation to the Pakistani leadership to visit India.He said regular interaction at all levels would not only provide a solid platform to resolve mutual issues but would also help obviate and reduce misperceptions and mistrust.The President said the two countries need to resolve all issues so as to concentrate on welfare of their respective peoples by addressing the problems of hunger, disease and poor infrastructure.Gilani informed the President that he had also extended invitation to both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi to visit Pakistan. The President hoped that such visits and resumption of talks will serve as important confidence building measure.The President greeted both the teams for a good game and said winning or losing a match was not really important. “It was the sportsman spirit and effort of our boys in the field, and the fact that the event provided an opportunity for the leadership to meet and entertainment the people that was so important and appreciable.”The President also hosted a lunch for the Prime Minister.  Senator A. Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Interior were present during the lunch.