Pakistan, India in process of resolving their disputes: Gilani

COLOMBO : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said Pakistan and India were in the process of dialogue to resolve all their disputes including that of Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking here at a dinner hosted by Pakistani High Commissioner, he said he wanted to see the South Asia as a region of sustainable peace and prosperity which was also the vision of his late leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
The SAARC region, the Prime Minister said at present was facing a number of challenges which included energy, food and environment issues.
He stressed the need for intra-regional trade between the SAARC region to compete in the globalized world and meet its challenges.
The trade figure of the SAARC countries, he said, was below two percent of the total trade in the region.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the challenges that Pakistan was facing from terrorism and extremism particularly in the tribal areas and said the government has adopted a three- pronged strategy to address these issues.
He said his government did not wish to go for the military approach to resolve these problems and instead its priority is to engage in political dialogue and then developing these areas through economic measures.
Referring to Pakistan-Sri Lanka relations, he termed them exemplary and said these were rooted deep in time through Gandhara civilization. Prime Minister Gilani said the Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka in 2002 has ushered in a new chapter of economic and trade relations between the two countries.
The government, he added, firmly believes in good governance and in this connection various measures have already been taken.
The democratically elected government which he said was committed to serving the masses, has rendered many sacrifices for the restoration of true democracy in the country. He said in this struggle for democracy, Benazir Bhutto laid down her life.
The dinner was attended by a large number of Sri Lankan civil and military officials, leaders of business and industry Pakistanis in Colombo besides the members of Prime Minister’s entourage.