Date:26/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/26/stories/2008032655671200.htm

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Manmohan greets Gillani

Anita Joshua

Hopes India-Pakistan ties will become the “best ever”

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday greeted his new Pakistan counterpart Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani and articulated the hope that bilateral relations would evolve to become the “best ever” under the new regime.

Felicitating Mr. Gillani on his assumption of office, Dr. Singh said both countries had an opportunity to transform “our bilateral relationship” into a mutually beneficial partnership.

Dr. Singh not only sent Mr. Gillani a letter but also spoke to him on telephone later in the day.

During their conversation, Dr. Singh hoped that Mr. Gillani would build on the initiatives taken by his predecessors — former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif — besides President Pervez Musharraf to improve bilateral relations.

In his letter, Dr. Singh reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Pakistan. “We see a stable, prosperous and democratic Pakistan as being in the interest of India and the region.”

Cooperative framework

Stating that there was a strong public sentiment in both countries for accelerating the peace process and establishing a cooperative framework for bilateral relations, he was hopeful that India and Pakistan would be able to build upon the progress already made and work expeditiously through the dialogue process towards agreed solutions of pending issues.

Keen to work closely

“Looking forward” to working closely with Mr. Gillani “towards an objective that I am confident you share,” the Prime Minister pointed out that “we have an opportunity to transform our relationship into the close, cooperative and mutually beneficial partnership that should be normal between neighbours like India and Pakistan.”

According to Dr. Singh, there is a common desire to establish a neighbourhood of peace and progress based on greater linkages between the people of the two countries, trust and mutual understanding.

On Pakistan coalition

Referring to the coalition arrangement that Mr. Gillani will lead, the Prime Minister also noted that the Pakistan People’s Party-led alliance had strong advocates of friendly ties between the two countries, some of whom had made important contributions to the peace process.