New York: The resumption of the subcontinental composite dialogue is in the best interests of the region, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has said.
At a meeting with former US president Bill Clinton in New York on Monday, Zardari also reiterated that Pakistan was determined to prevent its territory from being used against any other country, APP reported.
India had suspended the composite dialogue process in the wake of the audacious 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that New Delhi has blamed on elements operating from Pakistan.
India has also demanded action against terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed that New Delhi has named as the mastermind of the November 26-29, 2008, Mumbai carnage that claimed the lives of over 170 people, including 26 foreigners.
With Islamabad finally putting Saeed under house arrest, it was announced on Monday that Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York on September 27 to review Pakistan's action against the 26/11 terrorists.
The Foreign Ministers' meeting will be preceded by talks between India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in New York on September 26 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
"The Foreign Secretaries' meeting is being held in accordance with the decisions made during the talks between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India at Sharm-el-Sheikh in July," Bashir said in Islamabad.
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"The Foreign Ministers will meet to discuss the agenda prepared by the two Foreign Secretaries," he added.
Bashir said, "All the issues between the two countries, including terrorism and the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, will be discussed in these meetings."
India wants the talks to focus on an issue it considers central to its relations with Pakistan: an end to cross-border terrorism and justice for the 26/11 carnage.
PAKISTAN PM SPEAKS
On his part, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that Pakistan wants good relations with all neighbouring countries, including India, on the basis of equality.
Addressing a large gathering at the Multan circuit house, Gilani said Pakistan wishes to resolve the water and Kashmir disputes with India through negotiations.
He also stressed that the two nuclear powers should decide to move forward and focus on the well-being of their poverty-ridden people, adding this will pave the way for a socio-economic revolution in the region.
He said the 1.25 billion people of the two countries need development, education, health facilities, and business investment to get their problems addressed.
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