Pak for resumption of composite dialogue with India: Gilani

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Aug 24 (PTI) Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf
Raza Gilani Monday sought the resumption of the stalled
composite dialogue with India, saying Pakistan wanted good
relations with its neighbours on the basis of "equality".

Gilani said he backed opposition Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif's comments in an
interview about the need to improve relations between the two
countries and to resume the peace process.

"As far as Nawaz Sharif is concerned, it is his wish and
ours that the composite dialogue should be taken forward,"
Gilani told reporters while visiting PML-N leader Chaudhry
Nisar Ali Khan at his residence in Rawalpindi.

"Naturally, we will work in the interests of the country.
We want good relations with all neighbouring countries on the
basis of equality, sovereignty, self-respect, dignity and
honour. On these issues, we will not compromise," he said in
response to a question.

India put the composite dialogue on hold in the wake of
the Mumbai terror attacks carried out by operatives of the
Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba. New Delhi said a "meaningful
dialogue" cannot be possible till Islamabad takes effective
steps to end infiltration and dismantle terror infrastructure.

Pakistan has been insisting that the composite dialogue
should be resumed without conditions.

Gilani said Interior Minister Rehman Malik would give
Pakistan's reply to the latest dossier provided by India on
the Mumbai attacks "at the appropriate forum".

He also said he had consulted Sharif, a two-time former
premier, before meeting his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh
in Sharm el-Sheikh last month.

Sharif had given his "full blessings" and expressed his
desire for better relations with India, he said.

In reply to another question, Gilani said there was no
linkage between the possible trial of Pervez Musharraf on
charges of treason and the National Reconciliation Ordinance,
a controversial law passed by the former President to grant
amnesty to Pakistan People's Party leaders, including
incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari, in graft cases.

"These are different issues," he said.

Gilani refused to answer a question on differences
between the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the
opposition PML-N over the procedure to be adopted to try
Musharraf.

"The PPP and PML-N are two different parties with own
manifestos and programmes. The PPP is moving forward according
to its manifesto and the PML-N is playing the role of
opposition. All of us should have political maturity and we
need to strengthen the system and institutions," he said. PTI