ISLAMABAD – Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Wednesday said Pakistan believes in resolving all issues with India peacefully and diplomatically “through dialogue based on parity.” Talking to Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan T.C.A. Raghavan who called on him here at the PM House, the Prime Minister said Pakistan desires friendly relations with all its neighbors, particularly with India. “We have no option but to live in peace in the interest of the people of Pakistan and India,” the Prime Minister said. “My government is committed to improving relations with India,” he said and added the normalization process must remain on track.

“We need to work towards setting aside the baggage of history, prevailing mistrust and lack of flexibility,” he added.

“I am convinced that we have no option but to normalize relations for the sake of peace and betterment of our peoples.”

The Prime Minister told the High Commissioner about his “very good meeting” with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York and the one between Sartaj Aziz with External Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed in New Delhi recently.

“We should continue to hold regular meetings and interactions at all levels as these will help towards normalizing of relations.”

Expressing his desire to enhance trade relations with India Prime Minister Sharif said the second meeting of the Joint Business Council in New Delhi in October was useful.

“We look forward to further interactions between the two Ministries of Power and Commerce to discuss ways and means in moving forward on trade matters.”

The Prime Minister said that there was also the need to increase people to people contacts including visits of pilgrims and termed it “an important Confidence Building Measure.”

He said Pakistan and India need to institutionalize the mechanism of meetings between National Security Advisors of the two countries to discuss matters related to terrorism as it would help allay concerns of both the sides.

He expressed satisfaction over the current situation at the Line of Control, however called for further strengthening of the existing mechanism on meetings at the LoC.

He said the Director Generals of Military Operations of the two sides should meet so that there was no untoward incident in future.

“I believe that sincere and constructive measures need to be taken to reduce tension on LOC and to ensure that the ceasefire agreement of 2003 remains intact,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif welcomed the Indian High Commissioner on his new assignment in Pakistan and hoped that his tenure as High Commissioner will be as successful as his previous stay as Deputy High Commissioner from 2003-2007.

Tariq Fatemi Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs was also present on the occasion. (Monitoring Desk)