India, Pak agree to resume comprehensive dialogue on all issues

India and Pakistan have agreed to resume comprehensive dialogue on "all issues" and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will visit New Delhi by July to review progress in the parleys this decision to resume the dialogue, suspended by India in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba, was made during talks between the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries on the margins of a SAARC meet in Thimphu last week.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed his "satisfaction on the important decision taken both by Pakistan and India to resume the full spectrum of dialogue," according to a statement issued by the Premier's office.He appreciated his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh's vision for "opening a new chapter in the relations between the two countries which Pakistan fully reciprocates."

Before Foreign Minister Qureshi's visit to India, secretaries and officials of the two countries will hold a series of meetings to discuss issues like counter-terrorism, peace and security, Kashmir, Siachen and economic matters, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said in a statement.The two countries have agreed to "resume dialogue on all issues following the spirit of the Thimphu meeting between the two Prime Ministers" last year, he said.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister will visit India by July to "review progress in the dialogue process with his counterpart" S M Krishna and this will be preceded by a meeting of the Foreign Secretaries, Basit said.The two sides also agreed that before Qureshi's visit, meetings at the level of secretaries and other officials will be convened on counter-terrorism, including progress on the trial of suspects charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks, humanitarian issues, peace and security, including confidence-building measures, Jammu and Kashmir, promotion of friendly exchanges, Siachen, economic issues, Wullar Barrage-Tulbul Navigation Project and Sir Creek.

Following the mandate given by the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan after their meeting in Thimphu in April 2010, the Foreign Ministers of the two sides had met in Islamabad in July 2010 to review the "current state of the bilateral relationship and discuss steps to promote trust and confidence between the two countries," the statement said.

The Foreign Secretaries met in Thimphu on February 6 to "carry forward this process" and have briefed their respective governments, it said.Gilani approved the outcome of the talks between the Foreign Secretaries level in Thimphu, said the statement issued by the Prime Minister's office.

Gilani expressed these views during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir who presented him a report on the talks with his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao.
Gilani said the move to revive talks constitutes a "culmination of the efforts made by him along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the last few months and most notably at Thimphu (in) April 2010 during the SAARC Summit."
Talking to the media, Gilani said, "The Secretary, Foreign Affairs, has submitted a report on the dialogue between Pakistan and India at Thimphu (Bhutan). I am satisfied on this development".
"It is the result of my negotiations with Dr Manmohan Singh. This decision is exactly according to the spirit of understanding reached at during my interaction with Dr Manmohan Singh at Thimphu. I value this development and pay my compliments and good wishes to Dr Manmohan Singh."