Pakistan, Oman set to talk FTA

Gilani seeks increased Omani investment

PM denies communication gap with India

MUSCAT: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday denied any communication gap with India on resolution of core issue of Kashmir and other outstanding issues, but asked it not to hold the dialogue process hostage to the Mumbai incident. This impression should be dispelled that there is lack of communication between Pakistan and India, Gilani said, however pointed at lack of trust, in an interaction with local Omani media at his hotel.

Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan desires resumption of dialogue process with India to resolve all outstanding issues and mentioned his talks with his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh during which he had asked him that one incident should not be allowed to hold the dialogue process down.
Prime Minister said the resolution of Kashmir issue was vital for regional stability, adding Pakistan wished to discuss all core issues including Kashmir, and India too had agreed upon it. About presence of terrorist groups along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Gilani said both the countries realise that they are victims of a common enemy.
“We should combat terrorism with a joint strategy. The Nato forces and the ISAF are working in consultation with Pakistan and Afghanistan to jointly combat terrorism.”
To a question regarding the issue of terrorism and extremism, Gilani said the government was following the 3Ds policy of dialogue, development and deterrence and was moving in the right direction to curb the menace. He said the terrorists being timid people were hitting the soft targets but had now lost stronghold in the areas. Prime Minister Gilani said his visit to Oman would generate the momentum to reinvigorate the bilateral relations in further expanding economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister deliberating on the key economic areas discussed with Omani leadership; said a whole gamut of economic cooperation was discussed during his meeting with Sultan Qaboos and the Deputy Prime Minister. He said it was agreed that the two countries would maintain good cooperation in diverse areas including textiles, fishing, education and development in Gwadar. He said the two sides also agreed to work out feasibility on running a ferry service between Gwadar and Muscat. Gilani said Pakistan and Oman had excellent defence cooperation and efforts were on to materialise an agreement on it. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani sought increased Omani investment for Pakistan’s energy, telecom and agro-based industries, besides urging support for an early finalisation of a FTA with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).-Agencies