Zardari says Pakistan wants resumption of composite dialogue

Ahead of the Indo-Pak foreign secretaries meeting, president Asif Ali Zardari today said Pakistan wants "meaningful and result-oriented" talks with India, including the resumption of the stalled composite dialogue process.
   
Zardari made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistan's high commissioner to India Shahid Malik, who called on him at the presidency and discussed matters related to bilateral relations, including the foreign secretary-level talks to be held on February 25 in New Delhi.

Malik briefed the president in detail about the Indian offer for talks and the bilateral dialogue process.

Zardari said good neighbourly relations are essential for the welfare of the people of both countries and for fighting militancy.

Malik also met interior minister, Rehman Malik separately and discussed progress in Pakistan's investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks efforts to prosecute perpetrators.

While announcing that Pakistan will participate in the talks, the Prime Minister's Office had yesterday said Islamabad will raise all "core issues" and press for resumption of Composite Dialogue, which was suspended after Mumbai attacks.

The Indian side, while making the offer of talks, had said that these would focus on terrorism emanating from Pakistan and made it clear that composite dialogue could not resume until "the environment of terror or the threat of terror" persisted.

The interior minister was quoted by the media as saying that the government will not allow Pakistani soil to be used for any anti-India activities.