India and Pakistan leaders meet

Sir: President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh have met in Tehran on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit and exchanged views mainly on bilateral relations, to improve further the relations between the two neighbouring countries.

Contacts between the top leadership of the two countries go a long way in improving and strengthening the existing relations and boosting cooperation in different fields. Such contacts between India and Pakistan are all the more important for removing the irritants and improving relations in the larger interest of durable peace in the region.
According to reports in the media, this was the second meeting between the two leaders in a year. President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Premier Dr Manmohan Singh had last met in April in New Delhi during the Pakistani president’s private visit to Ajmer Sharif.
President Zardari is reported to have told the Indian prime minister that both the countries had covered a lot of ground but there is still a long way to go. He also called for making determined efforts by both the countries with a focus on continuing the dialogue process in a productive and result-oriented manner.
While continuing the dialogue process for resolving all outstanding disputes and removing irritants in the way of good neighbourly relations, as stressed by President Zardari, it is essential that sincerity of purpose and good intentions remain quite visible throughout. Merely holding rounds of talks on one or the other issue or problem without these being result-oriented and productive could only be described as a futile exercise, which is certainly and surely not in the interest of both the countries. Both India and Pakistan must ensure that they maintain good neighbourly relations and continue the dialogue process in a positive and productive manner in the interests of the peoples of both the countries and durable and lasting peace in the region. Progress in this regard can be made through regular contacts between the top leaders of India and Pakistan and this is what the people of both countries want and must have. The recent news of visa relaxation should be realised as soon as possible because this will make people to people contact easier and with that the relations between the two countries stronger.
EHSANUL HAQ QAZI
Lahore