SHARM EL-SHEIKH (Reuters/APP/Online) – Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday there had been momentum in ties with rival India and he hoped this progress would lead to comprehensive engagement.
“There has recently been some forward movement in our relations with India. We hope to sustain this momentum and move towards comprehensive engagement,” Gilani told delegates at a Non-Aligned Movement summit in Egypt.
“We believe durable peace in South Asia is achievable. It will be facilitated by the resolution of all standing disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
“The peace dividend for 1.5 billion people in the region would be enormous.”
Gilani also proposed an eight-point agenda at the NAM forum focusing on redesigning global institutional architecture on the basis of democracy, accountability and transparency.
He called for strengthening the multilateral system and for advancing interests of all states in an equitable manner. He also called for reinforcing the normative framework by stressing strict adherence to the principles of inter-state relations enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Gilani said Pakistan has been stressing the need for NAM to expeditiously evolve a mechanism for conflict resolution.
He said sustainable success would come from resolving long-standing political disputes and promoting socio-economic development, as he believed that advancement of Pakistan’s economic development goals was possible only in an environment of regional peace and stability. “We are, therefore, steadfastly pursuing friendly and cooperative relations with our neighbours on the basis of equality, mutual interest, and mutual benefit,” he said. He mentioned that there has recently been some forward movement in relations with India and hoped to sustain this momentum and move towards comprehensive engagement. “We believe durable peace in South Asia is achievable. It will be facilitated by the resolution of all outstanding disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. He said similarly peace and stability in Afghanistan was in country’s vital interest. He said Pakistan was engaged bilaterally with Afghanistan to realise the objectives of peace, security and development.
Gilani said Pakistan believes that the core of NAMÂ’s efforts today should be the quest for sovereign equality, and said the Movement must renew its emphasis on giving full life and meaning to the immutable principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-intervention, mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence. He suggested for developing a new global consensus covering arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation as well as access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Gilani said there was a need to pay urgent attention to the threat of climate change, including in South Asia, in view of prospects of the melting of glaciers. He also called for deepening South-South cooperation. The Prime Minister extended warmest felicitations to Egypt for assuming the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement for the second time, adding that as a founding member, Egypt had made a tremendous contribution to the promotion of the goals and objectives of the Movement. He paid rich tribute to Cuba and its leader Raul Castro for outstanding leadership during his countryÂ’s term as the NAM chair.
He said that summit was taking place at another defining moment in history, with a time of immense challenges but equally immense opportunities.
Prime Minister Gilani stressed for promoting inter-faith dialogue. “It is our conviction that the vision and principles outlined by the NAM’s founding fathers are not only valid today, but are indeed indispensable. The solidarity which helped us promote collective good in the past is equally essential for the future,” he said. He said security including the economic security was indivisible. “We must utilise this opportunity to fashion a holistic response. Our approach should be balanced, premised on the mutuality of interests of developed and developing countries. A conceptual rethink is required regarding the optimal balance between the role of governments and markets,” he said. Gilani said the temptation for protectionism must be resisted at all costs, and the market access should significantly expand, generating trade and employment opportunities. Stimulus packages and special dispensations to help particularly the vulnerable economies are essential, he added.
The Prime Minister said, “We must also work for comprehensive reform of the global financial and economic architecture, especially in the realm of enhanced regulation, more accountability, and inclusive decision-making.”
He said in Pakistan, peace and development are the core national priorities of the democratic government. “The guiding light for us is the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, of a progressive, modern, democratic, Islamic Pakistan – at peace within, and peace without,” he added. He said Pakistan was currently engaged in a resolute national effort to eliminate terrorism and militancy, and mentioned the enormous sacrifices rendered by its valiant security forces and the people in fighting terrorism.
He said Pakistan deeply appreciates the support and solidarity it received from friends in the international community. At the opening session of NAM summit, President Hosni Mubarak took the rotating chair from Raul Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Government of the Republic of Cuba, who presented a report about the activities of NAM during last three years. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of United Nations, the Ambassadorial Chairman of G-77 and China, and the representatives of regional groups also delivered statements and expressed commitment for multilateralism to finding solutions to the fundamental problems affecting humanity.
Earlier, Prime Minister Gilani was received at the summit venue by Egypt President Hosni Mubarak, who grouped together along with other heads of state and government for an official photograph. Prime Minister Gilani and First Lady Begum Fauzia Gilani also attended the official lunch hosted by President Mubarak and Ms Suzanne Mubarak in honour of the heads of state and government and the first ladies.
Top diplomats from India and Pakistan had earlier begun talks in Egypt to reduce tensions between the two states in a meeting on the fringes of the summit, sources close to the talks said.
The meeting of foreign secretaries of the two rivals, IndiaÂ’s Shivshankar Menon and PakistanÂ’s Salman Bashir, took place late on Tuesday ahead of the start of the summit in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
“They had good, detailed discussions,” said one source with knowledge of the talks who asked not be identified further. The sides again met on Wednesday evening.
The discussions were to prepare for a meeting on Thursday (today) between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and PakistanÂ’s Gilani, the third such high-level meeting since last yearÂ’s Mumbai attacks derailed any rapprochement.
Singh told the summit militant infrastructure must be removed and those involved in it be brought to justice. “The infrastructure of terrorism must be dismantled and there should be no safe haven for terrorists because they do not represent any cause, group or religion,” Singh said.
“Terrorists and those who aid and abet them must be brought to justice,” he said.
TodayÂ’s meeting will be the third high-level meeting between the two countries since last yearÂ’s Mumbai attacks derailed any rapprochement, which could improve stability across the region as far as Afghanistan.
In New Delhi, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday fired a warning shot by making it clear that key to resumption of Pak-India composite dialogue will be IslamabadÂ’s action against Jamaatud Daawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
Krishna minced no words by squarely holding Saeed responsible for November 2008 Mumbai attacks. He further urged Pakistan to take action against the JuD chief.
Monitoring Desk adds: Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Indian counterpart Shiv Shankar Menon again held a second meeting on the sidelines of NAM summit in Sharm El-Sheikh on Wednesday, reported a private TV channel.
The sources said India once again raised the issue of Mumbai Attacks and demanded Pakistan to bring the accused to justice.
The meeting between the two foreign secretaries lasted for one hour. These recent talks between Indo-Pak officials could pave a way for resumption of composite dialogues between the two neighbouring nations, sources added.
In TuesdayÂ’s meeting, Pakistan raising the issue of IndiaÂ’s meddling in the internal affairs of the country has made it clear that mutual cooperation is the key to stability and peace in the region.
These views were expressed by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir while briefing the media after holding a nearly 90-minute meeting with his Indian counterpart Shivshankar Menon in Egypt on Tuesday night.
He said that in the 90 minutes meeting here late Tuesday the agenda and modalities for the meeting between the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India to be held on Thursday were finalised. He said that during his meeting with his Indian counterpart our concern over India’s meddling in country’s internal affairs especially in Malakand Division were relayed. “We talked of constructive mutual cooperation and we want full resumption of the eight-segment composite dialogue,” Salman Bashir said. He said, “We want to look to future and we are not hesitant to talk on terrorism with India. All our political leadership and parliament want cordial relations with India. Terrorism is a global problem and we are ourselves the biggest victim of terrorism. In order to meet this challenge a collective effort is needed.” He said the water issue and terrorism were also discussed and we express hope that the matters would be settled soon. He said that during the meeting Shiv Shankar Menon raised the issue of release of Indian terrorist Sarabjit Singh and release of Hafiz Saeed and we made our point clear to him that we would not allow anyone to use our soil for terrorism and also took him into confidence on the progress regarding the Mumbai attacks.
Salman Bashir said that PM Gilani would be holding talks with his Indian counterpart with an open mind. In response to a question, the foreign secretary said that mutual cooperation between the two countries is the key to peace and stability of the region. “Nothing can be solved through unilateral demands. We should look to the future not the past,” he added. He said we want to have constructive and open-minded talks with India and we are hopeful that India would realise this. He said that the foreign secretaries meeting was not a structural meeting. There are several other phases. He said we want that the two PMs meeting to be constructive and result-oriented as if dialogue is further stalled then there is fear that situation could deteriorate. He said, “We are fighting a war against terrorism with full forces as this is a war of our very survival.”
Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon briefing media termed the meeting with his Pakistani counterpart as positive and said that it has been decided to promote contacts at the foreign secretary level. He said Pakistani and Indian PMs would be meeting on Thursday and there is a strong possibility of joint declaration after the meeting.
The talks between the foreign secretaries had been decided upon when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met President Asif Ali Zardari in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in June this year.
Relations between the two countries nosedived after the Mumbai terror attack. India suspended the composite dialogue process. The latest effort at putting them back on track comes as the alleged mastermind of the attacks, Jamaat-ud-Daawa chief Hafiz Muhammad SaeedÂ’s case is up for hearing in the Pakistan Supreme Court. While the prickly issue of his release is being heard in Islamabad, the two countries are in the process of ironing out some of their differences. The hectic India-Pakistan negotiations come on the sidelines of the 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit.
Meanwhile, the meeting between Gilani and Singh today will be held in Savoy Hotel of Sharm-al-Sheikh, where the Indian Premier is residing.
The agenda for the talks had been prepared earlier on Wednesday by foreign secretaries of both countries Salman Bashir and his Indian counterpart Shiv Shankar Menon. There is also a strong possibility of one-to-one talks between two premiers.
Meanwhile, both Premiers met informally on the sidelines of NAM session on Wednesday, which according to sources was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere; an omen viewed quite optimistically. However details of these talks, which covered many important issues could not be discerned.
Addressing a Press conference, Indian Foreign Secretary Menon said Pakistan has given India a dossier on its investigations into the Mumbai attacks. Menon said India wanted “credible action to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice and credible actions to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.”
Asked what action New Delhi expected of Islamabad, he said, “We are not in business of laying down markers. When we see credible action it speaks for itself.”
“We have had good detailed discussions. We are still in the process of talking to each other,” he said.