Indo-Pak ties improving: Gilani

Hurdles affecting India-Pakistan relations can be removed if the two countries engage in a dialogue with good intentions and pragmatism, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday.

Sometime hurdles come in the way of efforts to improve relations between the two countries but these can be removed through dialogue, Gilani said in an address to the nation on radio.

"If dialogue is held with good intentions and pragmatism, the solution to every problem could be found," he said.

India-Pakistan relations are improving and this is a good sign, he said.

The foreign secretaries of the two countries, during their meeting in Islamabad last month, finalised the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers on July 15, he added.

Gilani expressed the hope that Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's upcoming visit to Pakistan would have good effects on relations between the two countries.

"We have always strived (to ensure) that the two neighbourly countries utilise their resources for the welfare of the people and respect each other's sovereignty," said Gilani, who started the practice of addressing the nation on radio on the first Friday of every month earlier this year.

The premier referred to a wide range of issues in his speech, including domestic political concerns and relations with other neighbouring countries.

He vowed not to let the democratic system be derailed saying democracy was restored after numerous sacrifices by all political parties.

The 18th amendment to the constitution was a major step towards ensuring the stability of the democratic system and a parliamentary committee has been set up to implement the reforms package, he said.

Implementing the amendments will help all state institutions to work within their ambits, he added.

Gilani referred to the meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation interior ministers held in Islamabad last month and said the members of the regional grouping agreed to continue cooperation in the war against terrorism.

"We welcome the Islamabad Declaration and fully assure to implement the decisions of the conference," he said.

During meetings with US representatives, the government has made it clear that Pakistan alone cannot continue with the war against terrorism and that it is the duty of the world community to cooperate with the country to make this campaign result-oriented, Gilani said.

"We have told the European Union and the US that we want trade and not aid. We have also made it clear to Washington that the time for making demands of 'do more' has passed," he said.

Referring to Afghanistan, Gilani said: "We are extending every possible help in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan but we also want that the soil of Afghanistan should not be used against Pakistan."

The premier strongly condemned the suicide attack on the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore on Thursday and urged religious scholars and people to stand united to foil the designs of those who are bent on creating havoc in the country.