Prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today underlined the need for the world community to "persuade" India to resume the stalled composite dialogue to address all outstanding issues so that Pakistan could focus on the war against terrorism.
Gilani, who has repeatedly sought the international community’s intervention to revive the peace process stalled since last year’s Mumbai terror attacks, made the fresh appeal during a meeting with the visiting French chief of defence staff, Gen Jean-Louis Georgelin.
The world community should "play its role and persuade India to resume the composite dialogue process to address all the outstanding bilateral issues, including the Kashmir dispute, in the interest of regional peace in South Asia, thus enabling Pakistan to focus its attention on the campaign against terrorism", Gilani was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office.
Describing peace and stability in Afghanistan as vital for Pakistan’s own national interests, Gilani called for increased intelligence sharing and enhanced coordination between Pakistan and NATO and International Security Assistance Force troops for eliminating "rogue elements destabilising both the countries".
He also stressed the need for expanding defence and economic ties between Pakistan and France and asked the French government to provide modern defence equipment to help Pakistan in its operation against terrorism.
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