Islamabad, Jan 24: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar today called for continuing the India-Pakistan dialogue process in a “sustained, time-bound and result-oriented manner” to decrease “mistrust” between the two neighbours.
Khar made the remarks during a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal, who called on her to discuss bilateral relations and the dialogue process that was resumed by the two sides last year after a gap of over two years in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
“Taking note of recent contacts between the two countries, the Foreign Minister underscored the need for continuation of the dialogue process in a sustained, time-bound and result-oriented manner,” said a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Office.
Khar “emphasized that such contacts would be useful in decreasing the mistrust and improving the atmospherics”, the statement said.
Sabharwal “expressed appreciation” for Khar's “efforts and commitment to the dialogue process”, the statement added.
India and Pakistan are expected to begin a fresh round of their dialogue process in the near future.
The two sides have taken several steps to boost trade and economic ties and Pakistan has announced it intends to give India Most Favoured Nation-status by the end of the year.
However, the lack of progress in the trial of the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Taiba operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, continues to be an irritant in bilateral relations.
