ISLAMABAD, May 21: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan is ready for ‘grand reconciliation’ with India and the next round of peace talks will begin in mid-July in New Delhi.“Our government is ready for grand reconciliation for the resolution of longstanding issues that need to be resolved peacefully through dialogue and in a manner that is dignified and commensurate with the self-respect of the involved parties,” Mr Qureshi said at a joint press conference with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee after the political review of the fourth round of ‘composite dialogue’ on Wednesday.
Although the foreign minister did not unveil the specifics of the grand reconciliation offer, it was a clear indication that Pakistan was ready to show flexibility on some thorny issues that had been straining their relations and impeding progress in talks taking place since 2004, if India reciprocated.
Mr Qureshi said Pakistan was open to innovative ideas that could facilitate the dialogue and create a more enabling environment. “We don’t have a shut mind.”
Mr Mukherjee said India was equally determined to resolve all core issues and overcome hurdles in improving its ties with Pakistan. “I’m going back with a sense of satisfaction,” he said. More >>>
