Expressing hope for further normalisation of relations with India in future, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani on Sunday said that the 'trust deficit' between the two nuclear arch rivals had reduced to a great extent.
"We have been able to reduce the trust deficit," said Khar while briefing media after her return from recently held 17th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC).
The process of reengagement for result-oriented dialogue started from Thimphu and today, there is no trust deficit, said the foreign minister, adding that Thimphu spirit has been converted into Addu hope, she added. "We have invested too much in seeking out hostility towards each other and too less in seeking out peace with each other. We want to move forward," she said.
Responding to a question regarding Indian prime minister's recent statement regarding conditional visit to Islamabad, she said that Singh had the right to give statements for explanation and for public consumption as well.
She said that both the leaders, in their one-on-one meeting that lasted for 30-35 minutes, reaffirmed their commitment to the pursuit of peace and discussed all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmirr. "Kashmir has been recognised as a dispute," she added.
She said that the incumbent government had a clear policy of maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries for which it is even ready to take first step and show flexibility.
To a question whether Islamabad had same friendly policy with the US, Hina Rabbani Khar said that the US had a presence in the region but was not part of the region, adding "yes we had a rough patch in our relations in last few months but we are now pursuing good and friendly relations."
While giving details about the meeting between PM Gilani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the foreign minister said that the media had "misreported" the event saying the interaction was "positive and frank with honest discussion." President Karzai affirmed the importance that Afghanistan attached to its relations with Pakistan . Both sides agreed that the decisions reached at the recent Istanbul Trilateral Summit should be implemented.
Commenting on the summit, she said that SAARC countries had agreed for rapid response to natural disaster to meet any calamity with unity while Pakistan had floated the idea of setting up a SAARC regional Bank.
" Pakistan puts a lot of emphasis on South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) and it has the ability to lead South Asian socio-economic transformation," she added.
"We are actively pursuing to get gas from where it is possible besides Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and TAPI," the minister said in response to a question.
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