Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday asserted that “wars are no solution” and talks were the only way to resolve outstanding issues with India. Satisfied with the resumption of the dialogue process with New Delhi, he expressed the hope that the talks would reduce the trust deficit and create a solid foundation for taking the peace process forward.
Mr. Gilani made the remarks while speaking to an Indian delegation of peace activists led by veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar.
The delegation — part of the Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy — has been visiting Pakistan since March 17 and the meeting with Mr. Gilani was arranged on short notice.
Referring to his meeting with Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in Egypt in 2009 and Bhutan last year, Mr. Gilani said he fully believed in his counterpart's sincerity in trying to resolve all disputes with Pakistan.
Mr. Gilani urged the political class and the Fourth Estate to play a positive role in taking the peace process forward.
Dwelling on the full spectrum dialogue that is expected to resume in a phased manner from next week with Home Secretary-level talks in India followed by Commerce Secretary-level talks here, Mr. Gilani stressed the need for an uninterrupted dialogue to focus on contentious issues. He also called for more people-to-people contact and exchange of parliamentary delegations.
The Indian delegation has visited Karachi, Hyderabad and Islamabad before heading for Lahore on Wednesday on the final leg of their peace mission.
Responding to an oft-repeated sentiment within the Pakistani civil society about the arms race between the two countries at the cost of development, Mr. Nayar said the delegation would put this concern before the Government of India.
Mindful of the contentious issues that plague bilateral ties, Rajya Sabha member Bhalchandra Mungekar stressed need for building pressure from below on governments to solve them through talks.
