CHANDIGARH (India): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Thursday said promoting peace and security in the region and beyond was a top priority for Pakistan’s government.
He emphasized that both the countries should work together towards economic integration at the regional level.
The Foreign Minister, who is on a 4-day visit to India, was addressing a ceremony organized by the Center for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh on the topic “Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South Asia with special focus on Strengthening Pakistan-India relations”.
He said Pakistan’s stance stems from the conviction that a conflict-free and secure regional environment would contribute towards high and sustainable economic growth and development for the two countries.
“Pakistan and India must transform the dynamics of our region from conflict and confrontation to engagement and cooperation for the larger good of our people.”
The Foreign Minister said, “Pakistan desires close, cooperative and friendly relations with India.
We believe that a sustained engagement between Pakistan and India will not only help in promoting peace but also bring the fruits of bilateral cooperation and regional collaboration to the whole of South Asia.”
He said Pakistan has welcomed the statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Srinagar last month that India seeks “normalization of relations with Pakistan and a solution of all issues that cause estrangement, including Jammu and Kashmir, through dialogue and peaceful negotiations in an atmosphere free of violence”.
The Foreign Minister said political leadership in both countries, across the board, wants peaceful cooperative relationship between the two countries. “All political parties, the Parliament and the elected government in Pakistan sincerely desire improvement of relations with India,” he added.
He said a democratic Pakistan is the best insurance against conflict in the region. He said Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto once said “democracy needs support and the best support for democracy comes from other democracies.
The Foreign Minister said democratic nations should come together in an association designed to help each other and promote what is a universal value democracy.
Qureshi said, “In South Asia today, we have a shared responsibility to channel our energies towards the betterment of our people who constitute one fifth of this planet’s population.”
He said Pakistan and India are constructively engaged in a Composite Dialogue process and four rounds of the dialogue have been held.
Of Cross LOC Trade
The Foreign Minister said opening of the cross LOC trade last month, visit to Srinagar by a delegation from the AJK Chamber of Commerce and increase in the frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot bus services from fortnightly to weekly basis are welcome developments.
He said resolution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is the most important factor in improving relations between the two countries.
The solution to the problem has to be found through the collective political will of the leadership of Pakistan and India in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
The Foreign Minister said India and Pakistan have spent enormous amounts on maintaining their troops at Siachen. Both countries also feel that the resolution of the issue of Sir Creek is not difficult.
The Minister said, “We would also like to see forward movement on the issue of Chenab water flows.” He said Pakistan like India is committed to combating terrorism as both the countries are a victim of this malaise.
Referring to Pak-India economic cooperation, he said it has progressed at a satisfactory pace and bilateral trade, which was around US$ 300 million in 2002, has crossed US$ 1.98 billion now.
He said there are still factors hindering growth in agriculture sector in both the countries and these factors are low agricultural productivity, lack of adequate access to water, inadequate infrastructure, substandard public service delivery, and lack of direct access of farmers to markets.
The Minister said food security has emerged as a major challenge to the governments, farmers, agri-scientists, economists, and consumers in the region.
Fight against Terrorism
Condemning the terrorist acts in Mumbai in the strongest possible terms Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan is ready to cooperate with India at all levels to fight against menace of terrorism.
Speaking at the International Conference on Cooperative Development , Peace and security in South Asia and while talking to newspersons here Thursday, the Pakistan Foreign Minister said his heart goes out to families who have lost their near and dear ones in this tragic incident.
“I offer support and cooperation of the people and government of Pakistan to India in this difficult time.
Pakistan and India have to fight collectively extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
He said terrorism is not a local or regional phenomenon.
This is a global issue and all civilized societies will have to join hands and pool in their resources to deal with this curse.
Pakistan is dealing with this menace on daily basis.
After 9/11 the world had changed and it is facing challenges, he said and suggested that chiefs of intelligence agencies of both the countries and national security advisers should establish a hotline to exchange information.
He said President and Prime Minister of Pakistan have conveyed heartfelt sympathies of the people and government of Pakistan on this tragic incident.
He said both the countries have already established a mechanism to deal with terrorism and this system will be further strengthened.
To a question about the blame game being carried out by Indian media on Mumbai incident, he said “we should not jump to a conclusion in short time. He said Pakistan will cooperate with in curbing this curse.
He said Pakistan desires close, cooperative and friendly relations with India. He had discussed host of issues with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday including, Siachen, Sir Creek, plight of prisoners, enhancement of trade, visa liberation and people to people contacts.
He said both the countries should seize the opportunities to move forward and cooperate with each other for the betterment of their people. “I have come with open mind and a message of love and peace,” he remarked.
Speaking at the seminar, he said India has stake in Pakistan’s prosperity and Pakistan has a stake in India’s progress and development.
Both the countries must transform the dynamics of our region from conflict and confrontation to constructive engagement and cooperation for the larger good of the people.
Achieving peace in our region is not only desirable it is also doable. “We are fortunate that at this point in time leadership in both the countries, across the board, wants peaceful cooperative relationship.”
He said all political parties, the Parliament and the elected government in Pakistan sincerely desire improvement of relations with India.
Both the countries must avail this political consensus and transform this relationship into one of peace, harmony and broad-ranging cooperation.
A democratic Pakistan, he said is the best insurance against conflict in our region, he said.
The minister said Pakistan and India are constructively engaged in a Composite Dialogue process.
Four rounds have been held and meetings under the fifth round will be completed in the near future.
Referring to Kashmir, he said resolution of this issue is very important.
The solution has to be found through the collective political will of the leaderships of Pakistan and India in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir.
Qureshi said India and Pakistan spend enormous amounts on maintaining their troops in Siachen. Both countries also feel that resolution of the issue of Sir Creek is not difficult.
Both countries need to move forward on these issues, he added.
About to issue of Chenab water flow, he said Pakistan wants to see a forward movement on this issue.
The Indus Water Commissioner of India is expected to visit Pakistan. He said trade has enhanced from $ 300 million in 2002 to $ 1.98 billion between both the countries.
The Minister said both the countries have great potential in agriculture and they should share information in this field.
Both countries have common crops and common problems, the cooperation will benefit each other in a big way.
He said Saarc needs to be strengthened to boost cooperation among them in all fields.
The seminar was organized by Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh. Later he attended the proceedings of the seminar and where delegates from regional countries participated.
Ways and means were explored to boost cooperation and removal of bottlenecks for enhancing cooperation.
Rashpal Malhotra, Director General of the Centre welcomed the Minister and expressed the desire to enhance cooperation between Pakistan and India. Pranab Mukherjee could not attend the seminar due to the incident in Mumbai  | 
![PakistanTimes [PakistanTimes.net]](times2_files/sidelogo.JPG)
