Dialogue date finalisation: Qureshi expecting Indian foreign minister phone call today

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday that he was looking forward to having a telephone conversation with his Indian counterpart on Tuesday to discuss and finalise the date for resumption of composite dialogue between the two countries.
"I am looking forward to having a telephone conversation with my Indian counterpart today (Tuesday). Pakistan wants that the momentum generated at Thimphu be sustained", he said while briefing a group of former Foreign Ministers, Foreign Secretaries and Ambassadors on resumption of the peace process between Pakistan and India, as was agreed between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in their Thimphu meeting.
About the Thimphu meeting of April 29 on the margins of the 16th Saarc Summit, the Foreign Minister said that while the two countries had agreed to come back to the negotiating table to discuss all issues to make the peace process result-oriented, it was important that the dialogue between the two countries must continue uninterruptedly.
He said the Thimphu meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. The two leaders had agreed to take cognisance of each other's concerns and resume the peace process in the spirit of resolving all the issues on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect. It was also agreed to take necessary measures towards promoting mutual confidence and trust.
He underlined that terrorism was a regional issue and had to be dealt with through co-operation. He expressed hope that a meeting between the two Foreign Ministers would take place soon so that the peace process could be resumed without further delay.
There was also an in-depth discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Qureshi said, adding that the government had taken a principled position on this core issue. He said he strongly believed that no viable solution of the dispute could be found, and implemented, unless it was in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said it was encouraging that the Kashmiri leadership across the board had welcomed the resumption of the dialogue. The Foreign Minister welcomed suggestions made by the participants and appreciated their candid and valuable observations.
Most of the participants were of the view that resumption of the dialogue process was a significant development after the extended suspension of talks following the Mumbai terror attacks. It was, therefore, important that the leadership on both sides of the border must demonstrate vision and perseverance, and try their utmost to take the peace process towards concrete results.
They also complimented the Foreign Minister for his proactive and focused diplomacy, which, they said, was necessary to secure Pakistan's security and development interests in this complex and fast changing world.
The Minister said that the Foreign Office was Pakistan's first line of defence. It would always be there to protect and promote Pakistan's interests around the globe. He added that as Foreign Minister of Pakistan, it had always been his effort to consult all stakeholders and proceed with consensus on issues of national importance.
The meeting was attended by Abdul Sattar, Inam ul Haq, Akram Zaki, Dr Humayun Khan, Dr Tanvir A Khan, Shehryar M Khan, Najmuddin Shaikh, Riaz H Khokhar, Aziz Ahmad Khan, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Asif Ezdi Shah and Tariq Osman Hyder. Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir also attended the meeting.