Suspension of Indo-Pak talks helped non-state actors: Gilani

The suspension of the India-Pakistan composite dialogue in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks allowed non-state actors to succeed in "dictating their agenda", Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Monday.

Reiterating Pakistan's desire for the "negotiated and peaceful resolution" of all disputes with India, Gilani said, "By suspending composite dialogue following the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, non-state actors succeeded in dictating their agenda."

The premier made the remarks while addressing a gathering of top army officials, including army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, at the Command and Staff College in Quetta.

He said it was Pakistan's consistent viewpoint to "delink the peace process from terrorism".

"The Indian leaderships' willingness to resume the stalled dialogue and international support for initiation of talks represents a win of our diplomacy. Better late than never," Gilani said.

He said his government believed that "peace is the only course" that can improve the lives of the people of South Asia.

He also said it was "unfortunate that the leaderships of both India and Pakistan, who have immense stakes in the future, have been meeting on the sidelines of regional and multilateral forums instead of holding direct talks. Gilani, who spoke on issues of vital importance to Pakistan, again called for Pakistan to be given access to nuclear technology and know-how so that it could address a crippling energy crisis by increasing the generation of atomic power.

During his meetings with the US leadership, he made it clear that "Pakistan rightfully expects the US to adopt non-discrimination in terms of (a) civil nuclear deal with Islamabad", he said.

"We believe that the objectives of nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security would be better served if the policy of non-discrimination reforms the international paradigm in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy," he said.