MOHALI MEETING

                                       MOHALI MEETING

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani arrive to watch the Indo-Pak cricket World Cup semifinal match in Mohali on Wednesday30th March, Pakistan on Thursday said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh that Kashmir and other longstanding issues have to be addressed “earnestly” and noted their meeting was a “win-win” event  “In short, Mohali was a win-win for the Pakistan-India process of engagement,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said, referring to yesterday’s meeting between Mr. Gilani and Dr. Singh during the thrilling semi-final match  Longstanding issues between India and Pakistan, including the Kashmir issue, have to be “addressed earnestly” by the two sides while they focus on stability and peace in the region, Mr. Gilani was quoted as saying by Ms. Janjua. “Of course, there are longstanding issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, that need to be addressed earnestly with a view to finding a solution that accords with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,

            Mr. Gilani told Dr. Singh.  In response to questions that the two leaders had not referred to the Kashmir issue during their public comments yesterday, Ms. Janjua said that “Kashmir was discussed in the context of bilateral relations Pakistan is looking at the “entire engagement in a positive manner” and the two premiers had provided an impetus to the process, she said  Ms. Januja said Pakistan looks forward to meaningful progress in the ongoing process “We do not under-estimate the difficulties but have faith and confidence in a bright future for the peoples of our region,” Ms. Janjua told a weekly news briefing “Constructive engagement is essential so that we move towards the goal of establishing good neighbourly and cooperative relations                             Prime Minister Gilani assured Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that indeed this was what the government and people of Pakistan desired,” Ms. Janjua saidPakistan and India, as two important states in South Asia, “must endeavour to take ownership for their affairs with a view to advancing the objectives of stability and peace in our region and fulfilling the aspirations of the people” of the region, the premier saidMr. Gilani also stressed that Pakistan wants to “move towards a comprehensive and broad—ranging engagement with India on the basis of equality, mutual trust, mutual interest  and mutual respect

Ref:" The Hindu" 

Prof. John Kurakar