New York, Sep 26 : Ahead of a possible meeting of their Foreign Ministers here, India and Pakistan have underlined that despite their differences on issues like Kashmir and terrorism they have no other alternative but to engage in dialogue.
"Today there is a realisation that a negotiated solution is the only sensible way," Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, stressing his support for the Composite Dialogue while addressing the Asia Society here. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said India wants to engage Pakistan in talks as it is the only way forward.
"India wants to keep Pakistan engaged in talks because we do not see any other alternative....talks are the only way to take this forward," he told the Indian media at a reception held at the Indian Mission to the United Nations.
At this stage, Indian diplomats have not confirmed any meeting between the two ministers here on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, but a senior Pakistani diplomat claimed that a meeting had been cleared by both ministries and was expected to take place early next week. Krishna will be in New York till September 29 while Qureshi till September 30.
Pakistan's Dawn' newspaper reported today that Qureshi and Krishna are likely to meet tomorrow on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session.
During a "chance encounter" between the two leaders on Thursday, Qureshi had exchanged pleasantries and thanked Krishna for the help given to Pakistan by India through the UN for the flood-affected people,
The paper quoted a Pakistani diplomat as saying that Qureshi had earlier told his Indian counterpart that Islamabad favoured a result-oriented meeting, not another photo opportunity.
"Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has made it clear we don't want a meeting for the sake of photo-op. We want a real substantive meeting," he was quoted as saying. PTI
