ISLAMABAD, Jul 9 (APP): The Foreign Office on Thursday confirmed the planned meeting between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of Non-Aligned Movement summit in Sharm El Sheikh next week with a hope to resume composite dialogue process between the two countries. “Prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will be meeting, in addition to his Indian counterpart, several other heads of government and state on the sidelines of the NAM summit,” said Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit at his weekly briefing.

The spokesman said prior to the prime minister level meeting, the foreign secretaries of the two countries will meet to finalize the agenda for the meeting.

He said, “We are going with an open mind and hope that the composite dialogue is resumed.”  He said the meeting between two primes ministers will be open ended and without any specific agenda.

“We need comprehensive strategy to resolve the issues between the two countries through dialogue,” said the spokesman.

He said the Gilani-Singh meeting could not be considered as revival of composite dialogue process between the two countries but “the two leaders will hold talks over the composite dialogue and bilateral issues”.

Basit said it is necessary for both the countries to restart the stalled peace process to resolve the disputes.

The spokesman said, “We still believe that it is absolutely necessary for two countries to return to the negotiating table because without talking to each other it will be simply impossible to resolve the issues that the two countries are facing.”

He said Pakistan has received the English translation of Kasab’s statement from India and now prosecuting was underway by the Pakistani security agencies.

The spokesman said Pakistan has been conducting investigation into the Mumbai attacks with full seriousness and proceeding systematically.

About difference in Bush and Obama administration’s policies towards Pakistan, the spokesman said Bush administration engaged with Pakistan to evolve long term partnership while the Obama administration has bene engaged with Pakistan on issues of people and willing to have continuous process in this regard.

On the issue of recovery of Iranian diplomat, the spokesman said Pakistan government has been making sincere efforts for the safe release of the Iranian diplomat and exchanged details with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran who is visiting Pakistan.

Referring to statement of President Asif Ali Zardari regarding achieving tactical objectives in war against terrorism, the spokesman clarified that the statement has been quoted out of context.

The spokesman further said President Zardari was talking about the situation following the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan that created a gap and its influence on Pakistan.

“After the incident of 9/11, we are confronting new challenges and due to spill over effect of Afghanistan, Pakistan has been suffering,” he said.

On the question of appointment of new ambassador to Paris, the spokesman said Pakistan has conveyed its decision to the French government and now waiting reply from France.