In Thimphu, we had a new beginning: Pakistan

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's cabinet has expressed the hope that the outcome of his talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh will mark the beginning of a "new era of relations between the two countries".

The cabinet, during a meeting, also expressed the hope that the process of "talks for peace would soon get underway", The News daily quoted its sources as saying.

The cabinet "unanimously articulated its confidence in the conduct of dialogue with the Indian leaders" by Gilani.

The cabinet endorsed the decisions made in Gilani's talks with Singh on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Bhutan last week and said the leadership of the two countries should "not be carried away by the element that is opposed to peace and tranquillity in the region".

This will pave the way for the peaceful resolution of the problems of the two countries, including the "thorny issues of Kashmir and water", the members of the cabinet said.

Gilani thanked his colleagues for their expression of confidence and said he would take parliament and the people into confidence about his discussions with Singh in Bhutan, the daily quoted its sources as saying.

An official statement issued after the cabinet meeting said it had endorsed the outcome of the SAARC summit and Gilani's bilateral meetings with heads of delegations, including the Indian prime minister.