Pakistan seeks friendly relations with India: Hina Rabbani Khar

Pakistan seeks friendly relations with India and is keen to take the bilateral dialogue process forward in a "sustained and result-oriented manner", Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said today. Khar made the remarks during a meeting this morning with Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal, who called on her to discuss bilateral relations and recent developments like steps to boost commerce between the two countries.

She "stressed that Pakistan sought friendly relations with India on the basis of mutual respect and equality", said an official statement from the Foreign Office. Khar further said that "Pakistan was keen to take the dialogue process forward in a sustained and result-oriented manner".

Sabharwal expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the first round of the dialogue process following its resumption in February this year. He said the Indian government was "encouraged by the successful visits to India of the Foreign Minister and Minister for Commerce of Pakistan in recent months". "India was keen to take the process forward," Sabharwal was quoted as saying by the statement.

Official sources told PTI that Sabharwal apprised Khar of recent developments in bilateral ties, including Pakistan Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim's recent visit to India. Upcoming meetings between the two countries, including talks between the Commerce Secretaries to be held next month, also figured in the meeting, the sources said.