Former Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral welcoming improving trends in Indo-Pak relations on Monday congratulated President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee for initiating the process.
It is a fact that an overnight solution of years long complicated issues between the two nations is impossible yet a start has been made which itself is a promising aspect, Gujral told a private television channel. He said there had been a mounting tension between the two countries during the past few years, which has now reduced considerably.
The ongoing Saarc summit in Islamabad is another positive development in this respect he said adding one could hope India and Pakistan would now sit together for the solution of bilateral disputes.
To a question he said Prime Minister Vajpayee has already stated that he is ready to discuss Kashmir with Pakistan.
He stressed the need for resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue at secretary level by pursuing diplomatic principles.
Elaborating he said, solution of contentious and complicated issues requires a lot of deliberation through proper channel.
There is hardly any example that a major issue was ever resolved at summit level, he said. So it is imperative for both India and Pakistan to start dialogue from the bottom level to avoid repetition of Agra-like situations, he maintained.
He said both India and Pakistan have to come out of their stated positions on bilateral disputes, only then any talk can succeed.