Qureshi says only dialogue can improve Indo-Pak relations

Islamabad, Aug. 5 (ANI): Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that dialogue is the only way to improve Indo-Pak relations, and added that Pakistan is committed to engaging India in a composite dialogue to resolve all issues.

"We have to engage to resolve all issues," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

He added that the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India would meet very soon before the United Nations' annual session and present reports to their foreign ministers, who would then meet on the sidelines of the UN session.

Talking to reporters after an event at the Foreign Office Training Academy, Qureshi said India and Pakistan should discuss sensitive matters through diplomatic channels, and not through the media.

"I believe sensitive matters should be handled carefully and through diplomatic sources, instead of them in the media," he said.

On Pakistan's fresh queries to India regarding the Mumbai attacks, he said answers to the queries were necessary to make the case more tenable in court, adding more tangible evidence was still required.

"Pakistan has assured India and the international community that it is seriously pursuing the investigation into the Mumbai attacks and wants to bring the culprits to justice," he said.

He added that both countries had a joint mechanism for sharing information and fighting terrorism and it could be improved with increased interaction.

Qureshi said Pakistan and India were both victims of the menace and cooperation against it was the need of the hour, adding that Pakistan did not seek confrontation with anyone in the region and wanted to concentrate on its economic development and strengthening the democratic process.

"Pakistan does not want arms race in the region and there is a balance due to the strategic abilities of Pakistan and this balance clearly indicates that war is not an option in the region and will be suicidal," he said. (ANI)