Gilani calls for resumption of Indo-Pak composite dialogue

Islamabad, Feb 21 (PTI) Asserting that his Government
is committed to bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai
attacks to justice, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
has called for the resumption of the Composite Dialogue with
India.

During a meeting with visiting British shadow security
minister Baroness Pauline Neville Johns Friday, Gilani
reaffirmed his government's commitment that "the perpetrators
of those heinous crimes will not be spared".

However, he "regretted that India, by refusing
Pakistan's cooperation, has only served the objectives of
terrorist elements in the region", said an official statement
issued after the meeting.

Gilani expressed the hope that both countries "would
soon revert to the composite dialogue and undertake sincere
efforts to resolve all the issues, including the Kashmir
issue, amicably", the statement said.

Johns agreed with Gilani that the Kashmir issue is
"part of the problem in the region" and should be resolved by
resuming the Composite Dialogue between Pakistan and India as
soon as possible.

Gilani and Johns agreed that the use of force is not
the only option to effectively fight terrorism.

Dialogue, which is an important component of the
Pakistan government's three-pronged strategy, should be
incorporated in confronting militancy and efforts to restore
peace in the Swat valley should be seen in that context, the
statement said.

The premier emphasised the need for building the
capacity of Pakistan's civil armed forces, training and
equipping the Pakistan Army for effectively taking on the
militants, sharing of actionable intelligence and building of
trust and confidence among allies involved in joint efforts to
counter terrorism.

US and NATO forces should act in coordination with the
Afghan government to eliminate poppy cultivation and destroy
laboratories. This will stop the financing of Taliban
through drug money from Afghanistan, Gilani said. PTI RHL
DEP