Pakistan again hopes for composite dialogue resuming

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Thursday again hoped for the resumption of the stalled composite dialogue process with India, saying it was committed to peace in the region.

However, the signals emanating from India were not encouraging, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said while talking to Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy for the Af-Pak region, who called on him here.

Relations between India and Pakistan, Online news agency quoted Gilani as saying, should not become hostage to the activities of terrorists, who were the common enemy.

For lasting peace in the region, the prime minister said both countries must address core issues, including the Kashmir and water disputes.

Ever since India, earlier this week, invited Pakistan for foreign secretary-level talks, Pakistan has been insisting on resuming the composite dialogue that New Delhi suspended in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage that it blames on terrorists operating from this country.

India has said the dialogue can begin only after Pakistan takes concrete action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai mayhem.

The foreign secretary-level talks will be held in New Delhi on Feb 25. India has said they will focus on countering terror but other issues of mutual concern will also be discussed.