Pakistan desires genuine interaction with India: Khar

NEW DELHI: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Wednesday said Pakistan desires a genuine interaction with India in order to maintain cooperative relations.

In her brief statement before the start of discussions with Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna, Khar said, "We feel the relationship between the two countries should not be held hostage by the past."

She also stressed that officials on both sides must be "respectful of the reality of the two countries."

Khar said that Pakistan sees good friendly and cooperative relations with India as an important neighbour.

Foreign Minister Krishna in his statement said, "India looks forward to a cooperative relationship with Pakistan. It is in the interest of peace not only for our two countries but for the entire region and beyond. Perhaps we owe this to ourselves as well as to succeeding generations."

Hina Rabbani Khar also met BJP leader LK Advani before her meeting with Indian foreign minister. Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Shahid Malik, Pakistan High Commissioner in India were also present in the meeting.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011