Pakistan wishes friendly, cooperative relations with India

Islamabad: Pakistan wishes to have “friendly, cooperative and good neighbourly relations” with India, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday.

Zardari made the remarks at a special Diwali dinner he hosted at the presidency for visiting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his delegation. “We want the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes for lasting peace in the region,” he said.

Expressing satisfaction at the ongoing dialogue with India, Zardari said there was a “general consensus” among the mainstream political parties of Pakistan to have good neighbourly relations with India.

Zardari decided to host a special Diwali dinner for Kumar on learning that his meeting with the Indian leader coincided with the Hindu festival of lights, Indian officials said. Kumar and his delegation were earlier scheduled to call on Zardari at the presidency in the evening and the meeting was to be followed by a formal dinner hosted by the Foreign Ministry.

The President’s decision reflected the importance being attached to Kumar’s visit by the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government.

Zardari has taken a personal interest in pushing for better ties with India, especially in trade and commerce, said Fawad Chaudhry, a special assistant to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.