Pak desires peaceful resolution of issues with India: Gilani

Pakistan wants bilateral relations with India on the basis of equality and desires the peaceful resolution of all issues, including Kashmir, Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said today.

"I want to reiterate that we are a peaceful nation and desire the resolution of all issues, including Kashmir in a peaceful manner," Gilani said in his second address to the nation on radio.

The premier, who addresses the nation on radio on the first Friday of every month in March, said Pakistan has a "policy of bilateral relations with India on the basis of equality."

Gilani also referred to differences with India over the sharing of river waters and Pakistan's concerns about India’s presence in Afghanistan.

"With regard to the stopping of our share of river waters by India, the two countries recently held talks under the ambit of the Indus Waters Commissions, in which India acknowledged Pakistan’s concerns and agreed to make changes in the design of hydropower plants on the Indus river," he said.

Pakistan proposed the use of a telemetry system to monitor the flow of the rivers and India agreed to this, he claimed.

Gilani said Afghan president Hamid Karzai, during his recent visit to Islamabad, had given an "assurance that India will not be allowed to use Afghan soil against Pakistan."

He added, "We proposed cooperation with Afghanistan in different areas aimed at strengthening our friendly and brotherly ties."