Thaindian News

Islamabad, June 8 (IANS) Sub-continental peace and the resumption of the composite dialogue process will help Pakistan effectively combat and eliminate extremism and terrorism, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Monday.
“Saner elements in India understand that Eastern borders must be made peaceful to facilitate Pakistan to fully concentrate on its western borders,” he told the private Dunya news channel.

Pakistan and India must sit around the table and resolve bilateral issues, he said, adding that both countries are facing the common problem of terrorism.

“Both should cooperate in exterminating the menace of terrorism and extremism from the region. For achieving this goal normalisation of relations between the two countries is imperative,” Qureshi maintained.

India should avoid imposing any conditions before holding negotiations, he said, noting that Pakistan was itself a victim of terrorism and had condemned terrorist activities in India.

India had frozen the composite dialogue process in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai mayhem that New Delhi has blamed on elements operating from this country. Over 170 people were killed in the 60-hour assault.

Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone gunman captured during the carnage has confessed to being a Pakistani national and has said terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had trained him for the attacks.

In spite of repeated suggestions from Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, India has maintained that the peace process can resume only if Pakistan brings to book the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage

Sub-continental tensions were exacerbated June 3 with the Lahore High Court citing lack of evidence to free from house arrest LeT founder Hafiz Saeed who India says masterminded the Mumbai attacks.

India said this pointed to Pakistan’s lack of sincerity in prosecuting those responsible for the Mumbai carnage.