Pak in no ‘hurry’ for composite talk with India : Qureshi

ISLAMABAD - Reiterating that his country wants a purposeful dialogue with India for an early resolution of all outstanding issues, including and Kashmir and the river water sharing dispute, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Islamabad is no hurry to hold talks with New Delhi.

Qureshi said Pakistan would not hurry onto talks if India is not interested in ‘purposeful’ dialogue, but welcomed Saudi Arabia’s meditation for restoration of composite dialogue between both neighbours.

During a meeting with former foreign secretaries, ambassadors and other top officials Qureshi said Pakistan has made great sacrifices in the ‘war against terror’ and urged India to join hands with it to root out extremism from the region, The Dawn reports.

He told the officials that Islamabad ‘genuinely’ wants to normalise its relations with New Delhi, but it should be on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect.

“It is necessary that the two countries reverted back to a meaningful and structured dialogue process, as this is the only way forward,” Qureshi said.

He also briefed the officials over the first ministerial level strategic talks between Pakistan and the US, which were held in Washington on 24-25 March.

“Pakistan and the US have now agreed to develop multifaceted bilateral ties on the basis of mutual interest, mutual respect and mutual trust,” sources privy to the meeting quoted Qureshi, as saying. (ANI)