Pakistan Muslim League President Shujaat Hussain said here on Wednesday that the process of confidence building and people-to-people contacts would further help improve the relations between Pakistan and India. He was talking to External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh at a meeting in Hyderabad House. The PML chief was accompanied by party's Secretary General Mushahid Hussain and members of the parliamentary delegation. Pakistan's High Commissioner in India Aziz Ahmad Khan was also present on the occasion.
Later talking to APP, Mushahid that said Natwar Singh and two Union Ministers welcomed the PML President and his delegation. The meeting was held in a cordial and frank atmosphere.
Natwar appreciated the role and high stature of Shujaat in Pakistan's political scenario. He said that all was set to launch the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus on April 7, and added that Congress President Sonia Gandhi and he (Natwar Singh) would join Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to flag off the first bus.
Reiterating the Prime Minister Manmohan's observation on the issue of Baghliar project, the External Affairs Minister said that India was committed to implement Indus Water Treaty in true letter and spirit.
The Minister further said that they looked forward to President Pervez Musharraf's visit on April 16 to New Delhi, and added that he was expected to stay in Delhi up to April 18.
"India is committed to take the composite dialogue process with Pakistan forward to settle all issues between the two countries," added the Indian Minister. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Minister for Sports Sunil Dutt were also present on the occasion. Natwar Singh also hosted lunch in honour of PML chief and the parliamentary delegation.
Earlier, Shujaat along with Parliamentary delegation held meeting with leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha and BJP President L K Advani at his residence and discussed various matters of bilateral significance.
Welcoming the PML President, Advani said that there was an overall improvement in bilateral ties of the two countries and stressed that relations should be further improved.
Advani pointed out that the peace process between the two countries was heading forward. "I would visit Pakistan in June this year," he added.
He said that he would visit Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi during his stay in Pakistan. The BJP President said he had good and pleasant memories of these places as he had spent 20 years there and had been studying in St Patrick's School.
Advani said that there was no other option except bringing thaw and improvement in Pak-India relations to ensure peace and prosperity in the whole region.
He recalled that he had advised Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to invite Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf in Agra in 2001. He described Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service a positive development and a step as reward between the two countries.
MEETING WITH ADVANI: Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Wednesday met with leader of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lal Krishan Advani in New Delhi and discussed relations between the two countries.
Advani observed that "considerable improvement' has been made in relations between Pakistan and India and stressed the need to further improve and normalise these ties.
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