ISLAMABAD, May 21 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan and India need to resolve all outstanding issues between them including the core issue of Kashmir so that both countries can focus their energies on the shared problems of poverty, food and energy shortages.

The Prime Minister was talking to Indian Minister for External Affairs, Parnab Mukherjee who called on him at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister said the fact that a popularly elected government is in place in Pakistan augurs well for the improvement of relations between the two countries.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is committed to the peace process with India and wants to further improve and strengthen relations with India. The Prime Minister said that it is gratifying to note that the process of composite dialogue has led to increase in people to people contacts, cultural exchanges and enhanced communication links between the two countries. He said both countries should continue to undertake CBMs to make the peace process a success.

The Prime Minister said that both countries have been victims of terrorism and have lost their popular leaders at the hands of terrorists. He said Pakistan has strongly condemned the recent bomb explosions in Jaipur and has expressed deep condolences over the tragic loss of life and property there.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan is keen to expedite finalization of the IPI gas pipeline project as it will help both countries to meet their growing energy needs.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the need to further energize the SAARC so that it can become the proper platform to enhance economic, social and cultural cooperation among its member states.

The Prime Minister asked the Indian Foreign Minister to convey his warm regards to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and convey his gratitude for his gracious contact with him on his election as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Mukherjee renewed Indian Prime Minister’s invitation to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to visit India.

The Prime Minister thanked for the invitation and said that Pakistan is also looking forward to Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Pakistan which, he hoped, will go a long way in improving relations between the two neighboring countries.

The Indian Minister for External Affairs said India was also committed to seriously pursuing the ongoing composite dialogue with Pakistan and wants to resolve all outstanding disputes between the two countries. He said that he has met Pakistani leaders belonging to the different political parties which will further help improve relations between the two countries.

The meeting was also attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, Ambassador of India in Pakistan Satyabrata Pal and senior officials.

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