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Pak seeks uninterrupted dialogue with India New Delhi, July 18 “We are working on a meeting between the Foreign Secretaries as was decided by the two Prime Ministers when they met in Delhi after the swearing-in of the new government,” Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said at a ‘Meet The Press’ programme at the Press Club of India here. In response to a question, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be welcomed in Pakistan whenever he decides to visit his country. ‘’Such high-level visits don’t take place without adequate preparations…It’s too early to say anything on that (visit by Modi).’’ Observing that the two countries were in discussion on a whole range of issues between them, he disclosed that the Commerce Ministers of the two countries would meet in Thimphu on July 24 on the margins of the SAARC Trade Ministers’ meeting. He indicated that according the MFN status to India could also figure during the meeting. Pakistan was also planning to host a life-style exhibition in New Delhi from September 10-14 and another in Mumbai in August end. Claiming that the genesis of all disputes between India and Pakistan lay in the Jammu and Kashmir issue, Basit said the two countries need to implement in letter and spirit all the agreements and MoUs between them. ‘’Pakistan is committed to adhere to all the commitments it has made…If we continue to cling to stereotypes, we won’t go anywhere.’’ The Pakistani envoy said the two countries must deal head on with their history and geography in the interest of stability in the region. Describing Pakistan as a victim of terrorism, Basit said there was a misconception in India that Pakistan was a ‘failed’ state. People in Pakistan also have the same impression about India. ‘’It is a matter of time before Pakistan becomes a regional economic hub. Nobody can stop that.’’ He said things had indeed started looking up between the two countries after the installation of a new government in India. The two countries were actively discussing Pakistan’s proposal to buy 500 MW power from India. Asked if the Pakistan Army was on board with regard to improving relations with India, he said the Army was very much a part of the government. ‘’It is the civilian leadership which calls the shots in Pakistan and not otherwise.’’ Pak wasn’t aware of Vaidik-Saeed meet New Delhi, July 18 “Our government was not aware of the meeting. We were not in the loop. The High Commission of India was also not aware of it,’’ Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme here. He pointed out that Vaidik had gone to Pakistan as part of a delegation to attend a conference organised by the Regional Peace Institute. This was not his first visit to Pakistan. He had gone to Pakistan on several occasions in the past. As far as giving a long duration visa to Vaidik was concerned, Basit said Islamabad was very liberal in issuing visas. Asked why then two Islamabad-based Indian journalists—one from The Hindu and the other from PTI— were expelled by Pakistan, he said, “They were not expelled. They worked there...We are ready to consider application for their replacements. We have not received applications so far.” Asked how he could call Saeed, the JuD chief, private citizen who continued to spew venom against India, the Pakistani envoy said he had been detained several times but no evidence had been found against him to try him in courts. ‘’If anybody has hard evidence against him, it should be shared with us. We cannot put a private citizen behind bars just to please the world.’’ On the tardy pace of progress of the 26/11 trial in Pakistan, he said the matter was in courts and these things do take time. ‘’We are committed to bring to justice those who carried out this heinous crime. Courts are proceedings in the matter.”
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