Zardari wants constructive, sustained ties with India
Zardari, during a meeting with Pakistan High Commissioner designate to India Salman Bashir, said that it is time that the two countries work together for the betterment of the people, said the report.
The president further expressed satisfaction over the progress being made to normalise bilateral trade ties between the two countries and stated that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indian Trade Promotion Organisation and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan would help promote trade activities.
He has also expressed the hope that the resumed dialogue process would move forward in the spirit of Thimpu ad Mohali meetings of the two Prime Ministers.
Zardari said that Pakistan wanted an uninterrupted and uninterruptible dialogue process and was committed to resolve all the outstanding issues in a peaceful and just manner.
The President expressed satisfaction over the progress made so far in the resumed dialogue process and called for the need to make the talks more productive and result oriented.
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@JohnnyBoy: The current state of affairs in Pakistan is not because of political atmosphere, but it was the lack of political atmosphere and more of dictatorship in the country in many years which kind of skewed people's priority from being Pakistani first to being muslim first. From being better human first to becoming better muslim first. And the path of becoming a better muslim unfortunately led by Zia's institutions of madrasahs has nothing but poison the common citizens of Pakistan and pitted them into violence, whether the violence is against India, Afghanistan or each other in form of sectarian violence. The ills of Pakistan is lack of people's will to give up strict posture vis a vis religion and lack of will to show flexibility and tolerance towards other religion. How many hindus and non muslims constitute the current population of Pakistan compared to when Pakistan received independence ???
@abc: "Longstanding disputes should be resolved"....otherwise we will resort to Terrorism ???
No doubt it's time for Pakistan to move on and not to dwell on the past! Let's hope that Zardari's efforts to improve Pakistan's relations with India would bear fruit. And, let's hope that he does it ultimately for the good of Pakistan and not for political gains - the support of popular votes in next year's elections.
@JohnnyBoy: With a totally disproportionate army to your size and most of the budget being sucked for defence how much more strong you want to become. Time to start using your other faculties to make the country free of gun culture, bring education,spread harmony between all Muslim sects and other religions. That is what is going to bring prosperity and peace and happiness and not the blind race for becoming strong and more bodily strong.
Statements of this kind can be nothing better than an exercise in hypocrisy. Mr Zardari is not such a leader of Pakistan that he could bring about any basic change or departure in India–Pakistan relations. No dramatic results are possible because in both countries leadership does not exist that could work to solve any of the questions that divide the two countries. The last time we had such leadership was in the time of ZA Bhutto and Indira Gandhi. We wait for better leaders to arise. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, India, 14 Jun 2012, 0519 IST
@JohnnyBoy: Now do not act like you do not know the reasons why your country is in such a state.Zardari is definitely among the last persons to blame.The state of a nation is due to the decisions made by its citizens. Taliban resides in Pakistan because a major section of society itself is complacent to religious violence in the name of islam.
I disagree to the suggestions that Mr Zardari has done anything for India-Pak relations. Everything that has been done so far is just on paper but it means nothing. Pakistan is doing this peace overtures because It is at the receiving end from all sides and they want to keep the borders with india quiet for the moment.
MFN has been granted to India - This is incorrect to say the least. Pakistan is taking steps to do away with negative items that can be imported from India. But it has not officially given the MFN status to India
Visa Agreement - Pakistan has backed out on signing this deal which affects the common man the most
On bringing to trial the Mumbai terrorists Pakistan has not done anything. It is coming up with one excuse after another. There has been a total of 5 judges that has heard these cases
Siachen - Pakiustan is now asking for mutual withdrawal of forces only after It lost 140 plus soldiers a few weeks ago. Not many know this but Pakistan actually does not hold the Siachen Glacier. India holds It. Pakistan just holds the lower levels from Its side. This is the reason why It does not want to validate its positions that India is asking for since the pakistan nation has been fed lies from the army
Agreed with BlackJack. But Pakistanis tend to pin all the present ills on Zardari and let go other minor partners like opposition and major partner army scot free.
@abc: "Every country must build good relations with its neighbours. Pakistan has always tried to keep the same in its international relations."
Not true. Pakistan initiated all wars with India. Your own retired Air Marshal Asghar Khan says that. In addition since the 1990s Pakistan sent thousands of jihadis to India. This was denied then but is acknowledged now as an element of Pakistani foreign policy. In addition, Pakistan allow terror camps within its terrirtory for terrorists that attack all ist neighbours. It is not just India but China, Afghanistan and Iran have also complained about the same..
Just as a man is known not by how he looks, what clothes he wears and what food or language he speaks but by his thoughts and actions. Similarly nations are defined by their ideology and actions. India and Pakistan are two stark different countries based on ideology and actions. We may look alike but inside we are very different.
Yes agreed with Blackjack and John B, Mr Zardari has certainly done more in his present tenure as a president than any other Pakistani leader I can imagine or recall, Not withstanding the pulls and pressures from the military and the mullah brigade. Remarkable. Be it granting MFN status to India or softening its stand on Kashmir, which is practical too or advocating peace with India on multiple platforms. Yes his tribe should only grow. Rgds P
He is a very balanced person. Here's wishing him luck and good health. And may God protect him from enemies!
Every country must build good relations with its neighbours. Pakistan has always tried to keep the same in its international relations. The longstanding disputes must be resolved. There resolutions is the only way to move forward. Talks must be held among them and the matter must be resolved by taking all the stakeholders on board. This will left no excuse for any misadventure.
@BlackJack: Indeed. His govt may be terrible in domestic issues but has done a lot in corrective measures on domestic politics and international affairs. Undoing the doing of the past governments of PAK itself is a big achievement. Hopefully, subsequent administrations stay the in the same corrective course.