Islamabad, Jan 8 (ANI): The Foreign Office of Pakistan on Monday said that India should settle all "longstanding issues" with them before entering into a bilateral agreement of friendship.
The comment from Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam comes in the wake of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's statement that he made today calling for a "Treaty of Peace, Security and Friendship" with Pakistan.
Aslam said that this was nothing "new" from India, and that Dr. Singh has not referred to have such pact 'immediately'.
"However he did not mention any such immediate pact," The News quoted Aslam as saying.
Earlier in the day, Dr. Singh had said, "I earnestly hope that relations between our two countries become so friendly, and that we generate such an atmosphere of trust and confidence between each other, that the two nations would be able to agree on a Treaty of Peace, Security and Friendship."
On the impending visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Islamabad this week, Aslam said, "Three to four agreements between Pakistan and India are expected to be signed."
Pakistan has called for softening visa policy between the two countries and expressed hope that a pact on this issue will finalized as soon as possible.
During his visit, Mukherjee will invite Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for the 14th SAARC Summit to be held in New Delhi in April this year.
Mukherjee's visit is being seen as 'crucial' by analysts, as he is likely to sign three agreements with Pakistan. It has also been reported that during this visit, the date for Manmohan Singh's visit to Pakistan may get finalised.
Mukherjee's visit will be quickly followed by a week-long visit of the moderate section of the Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq to Islamabad.
Talks on the Kashmir issue has got a renewed thrust with the Prime Minister and Kashmiri leaders having welcomed Musharraf's four-point peace proposal for peace. (ANI)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment