India, Pak should build on the dialogue to bridge trust deficit: Qureshi

Islamabad, June 24 (ANI): Pakistan has expressed optimism over the ongoing Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks in Islamabad and said that both countries should build on the talks to bridge the trust deficit.

Talking exclusively to ANI at the Pakistan Foreign Office, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said: "I think this dialogue is a step forward, definitely a step forward. The fact that the two sides have resumed the dialogue' agreed to sit together, to talk on the issues of mutual concern, is an important development and, we should build on this development".

When asked whether the Indo-Pak dialogue could bridge the existing "trust deficit", he said: "Why not, where there is a will, there is a way."

Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao also called on Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi.

Rao is here to prepare the ground for the foreign minister-level talks slated to take place on July 15 in Islamabad.

Issues like reducing the existing trust deficit, terrorism, Kashmir, the trial of mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attack came up during the discussion.

Home Minister Chidamabaram is also arriving here tomorrow.

Interestingly, there is optimism expressed by Islamabad in the wake of a statement made by Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna.

Krishna said in Mumbai that nothing spectacular should be expected from the series of talks with Pakistan due to the complexity of bilateral ties between the two countries. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)