Gilani hopeful about dialogue with India
The two foreign secretaries will meet on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation meeting scheduled to take place in Thimphu, Bhutan between 6-7 February.
In a meeting with German Foreign Minister Dr Guido Westerwelle, Premier Gilani urged India not to hold the peace process hostage to one terrorist incident.
“India should resume the composite dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all the outstanding issues with Pakistan peacefully and expeditiously, including the Kashmir dispute,” Gilani told the German foreign minister.
He sounded upbeat saying that India would respond positively and constructively to Pakistan’s sincere efforts for the resumption of meaningful dialogue at the forthcoming talks in Bhutan.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister House said Gilani conveyed his appreciation to the German government for clarifying the negative comments attributed to Chancellor Angela Merkel about Pakistan during her recent visit to India.
The statement said the prime minister noted with thanks the Germany’s important role in passage of Trade Concession Package for Pakistan by the EU and continued support for its passage through WTO.
He urged Germany to use its influence with countries like India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Peru to drop their resistance for approval of the package by WTO.
In his remarks, the German foreign minister termed Pakistan as the most important country in world’s fight against terrorism. “Pakistan is a trusted friend of Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel held Pakistan in the highest esteem and her remarks about Pakistan during a press conference in India were distorted by the interested quarters,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 10th, 2011.
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