New Delhi, Nov. 24 (ANI): Civil Aviation Minister and senior Congress leader Vayalar Ravi on Thursday said he was optimistic about India's bilateral ties with Pakistan, and hoped for greater political and economic engagement between the two countries.
"26/11 is, always we feel, it was a serious thing which is still in the minds of the people. But I believe the dialogue that has been opened, the confidence-building measures that have been taken from both sides, I should say, the signs seem to be positive to an extent. The way the Prime Minister also reacted and the reaction came from their country also, especially the MFN status, the Most Favoured Nation status given, I hope things will improve," he told mediapersons here.
Ravi also mentioned that though New Delhi had been forthcoming in extending friendly gestures, it was still waiting for a positive reciprocation from Islamabad.
"The situation with the neighbour should be improved. This willingness of India has been expressed in different ways, while protecting our interests at the same time. But, a more positive signal has to come from Pakistan, I hope and the expectations are they will come with more positive results," he added.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had earlier this month said that terror continues to be the focal point of the dialogue process between India and Pakistan.
"Terror continues to be the focal point of India's dialogue process with Pakistan. So when we discuss bilateral issues we certainly factor terror and the various ramifications of what terror has brought to us," he told the media at Addu City, Maldives, where he met his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar.
"Well, the ground reality as she (Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar) sees it, she perceives it and the ground reality as we perceive it, I think there should be some matching point between two, so we are working towards that," he added.
Krishna said the dialogue with Pakistan is a continuous process.
Distrust, border clashes and militant attacks have undermined stability in the region ever since two nations were carved out of colonial India in 1947 with the disputed region of Kashmir at the heart of the problems.
They have fought three all out wars since independence from the British.
The border still bristles with soldiers who often exchange fire and both sides man the world's highest battlefield, the 6,000 metres altitude Siachen glacier. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
