India, Pak must work together for regional peace: Zardari

ISLAMABAD - It is imperative for both India and Pakistan to work together and reduce the existing trust deficit between them so that peace and stability could be established in the region, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said.

During a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna here, Zardari said that the development of the region depends on cordial and cooperative ties between the two countries, and expressed the hope that the resumed talks would help in removing the mistrust and restore confidence.

Describing terrorism as a common enemy of both the neighbouring states, he said the menace is needed to be countered jointly.

“Both the governments need to work more closely for eliminating this menace,” The Daily Times quoted Zardari, as saying.

He also stressed on the need for information and intelligence sharing between the two counties to prevent extremists from disturbing the peace in the region.

The Indian delegation also held talks with Prime Minister Yosuf Raza Gilani, who reiterated that Islamabad is committed to have “friendly and cooperative relations” with New Delhi.

“The existing environment of goodwill in Pakistan for fostering friendly relations with India should be used to address all the outstanding issues between the two countries before it is eroded with the passage of time,” Gilani said.

Commenting on India’s continuous demand to bring the perpetrators of November 2008 Mumbai attack to justice for talks on all other pending issues to resume, Gilani said Pakistan has already taken “serious and credible steps” to punish those responsible for the ghastly terror attack, adding that the “ball is now in India’s court.”

“The ball is now in India’s court to take the peace process forward by resuming the dialogue on all the outstanding issues,” he said. (ANI)