Indian Parliament for terror-free ties with Pak: Meira tells Gilani

Islamabad, Feb 23 (PTI) Speaker Meira Kumar of Lok Sabha, lower house of India's Parliament, has told Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that there was consensus in the Indian parliament on forging a relationship of trust and cooperation with Pakistan "in an atmosphere free of terror and violence". Kumar, the first Lok Sabha Speaker to visit Pakistan, made the remarks at a reception hosted by Gilani here Wednesday for a visiting Indian parliamentary delegation led by her. India, she said, wished to see a "stable, peaceful and prosperous Pakistan". In his address, Gilani said it was "his cherished desire to have a constructed‚ sustainable and result-oriented dialogue with India". Such a dialogue is necessary for "permanent and solid relations" and will also usher in development and prosperity in the region, he added. Gilani noted that the first round of the resumed India-Pakistan dialogue was held last year and expressed the hope that the second round of talks this year would "bear fruits". India and Pakistan resumed their peace process last year after a gap of over two years following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were blamed on Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Gilani said he had "great regard" for his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, who accepted his initiative for dialogue. The premier referred to Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma's visit to Pakistan last week and said he hoped that trade between the two countries would grow and contribute to the prosperity of people and to trust between the two countries. Meanwhile, acting President Farooq Naek has said President Asif Ali Zardari is making all possible efforts to improve India-Pakistan relations and the current government is actively pursuing a policy that will lead to a qualitative improvement in relations with New Delhi Naek made the remarks at a reception he hosted Wednesday night for the delegation led by Kumar. Pakistan wants peaceful and friendly relations with all its neighbours, including India, as it believed in the need for greater cooperation for regional stability, said Naek, the chairman of the Senate or upper house of parliament. Naek, who acted as host for the reception as Zardari was away on a private visit to Dubai, said: "It's time we solve all our issues, including Kashmir and water, for peace and better relationship through an open, meaningful and result-oriented dialogue, keeping in view aspirations and wishes of the people and international law, which would herald a new beginning and bring peace, prosperity and economic well-being for all of us". PTI Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, accompanied by an Indian Parliamentary delegation, meeting Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani in Islamabad on Wednesday. PTI Photo