MULTAN, Nov 20 (APP): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday that Pakistan wanted meaningful and result-oriented bilateral negotiations with India Addressing a press conference at the local airport, he said,”I want to give a clear message to India ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth meeting that Pakistan is ready for a meaningful dialogue.”“But if they (India) want another sitting for the sake of a sitting then I do not want to waste time. I am not interested in a mere photo session. I am interested in a result-oriented dialogue.”

The foreign minister said resumption of dialogue would benefit not only the two countries only but also the whole region by  ensuring regional peace.

He said the whole world was talking about peace and stability in the region and India has to decide as to what it wanted for the future. He said that US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao also stressed on regional peace and stability in their joint statement during the recent visit to US President to China.

Mr. Qureshi said Pakistan desired to have a constructive engagement with India and after Mumbai incident Pakistan “sincerely took result-oriented steps to normalise situation.”

To a question, he said during his meeing with his Indian counterpart at New York, he had condemned the Mumbai incident but added  India should not overlook the fact that Pakistan was facing Mumbai-like incidents daily and India and the whole world should be fully alive to this problem.

He  said foreign ministers of all important countries had a round table meeting after the oath taking ceremony of Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul and he had a chance to have an informal interaction with his Indian counterpart S.M Krishna.

Mr. Qureshi said he had reminded his Indian counterpart that during their New York meeting, a road map was discussed for resumption  of dialogue between Pakistan and India and the Indian minister had stated that he would discuss it in India and then inform Pakistan.

To a question regarding reported controversial statement of Indian PM about Pakistan, he said it was just a news story, adding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “is a serious and wise personality and I do not think he would have given such an irresponsible statement.”

There might be a distortion and twisting of facts, he added.

When asked whether the statement was meant to put pressure on Pakistan, the minister  categorically stated that no one should have any misunderstanding, neither India nor any one else. “We will  not act under pressure and take steps keeping in view our own national interests.” 

He said  Pakistan was ready to discuss any thing; every thing on the table whether it’s water issue, Kashmir or the issue of terrorism.

To a question, FM contradicted a news item in a US newspaper regarding presence of Mulla Omar in Pakistan. FM stated that he does not give importance to news stories adding that we have official channels of communications. He said that there were many news stories which were contradicted by their own government.

The foreign minister said that newly elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari in Kabul, has promised cooperation with Pakistan in all sectors.

He said the Afghan President showed his interest in addressing Pakistan’s concerns and mutual challenges and expressed commitment to moving forward.

He said the Afghan President also hinted at his visit to Pakistan after formation of his new government.

Qureshi said foreign ministers round table conference in Kabul after Hamid Karzai’s oath-taking ceremony discussed the inaugural address of the Afghan President and expressed satisfaction over his vision for the second five-year term. It covered all aspects including governance, institutional building and security.

It was decided that an international conference will be held in January to prepare an action plan and set timeline to achieve targets so that they can serve as benchmark for performance evaluation. He said that foreign ministers of important countries including US, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia, Turkey, India and Vice President of Iran had attended that meeting.

The foreign minister said Dr. Aafia is the daughter of nation.  She is our sister and government paid US$ 2 million as fee for her lawyer which shows government’s sincerity to help her out.

To a question regarding reports about withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, Qureshi said that it would not be an immediate withdrawal.

Presently Nato and Isaf are performing security related  duty in Afghanistan and also enhancing capacity of Afghan national police and army. Afghanistan is going through transitional phase and the purpose is that the equipment and number of Afghan police and army be enhanced in next two to three years and their capacity be built before withdrawal, he said.

To a question, he CIA director was in Pakistan on a routine visit as part of intelligence sharing between US and Pakistan on war against terrorism. “We are cooperating for a common objective and exchange views from time to time,” he added.