We live on hope, says Pak about PM-Gilani meet

Ahead of a possible meeting between their prime ministers in Thimphu, Pakistan on Tuesday said it wanted the resumption of composite dialogue with India at the political level, as the outcome of parleys between the foreign secretaries had been 'disappointing'.

"I don't think a forward movement can take place at the foreign-secretary level," Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, adding, "If you want real progress, it will have to come from the political leadership."

"It requires political will, the foreign secretaries can't deliver," Qureshi said in key remarks ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani's possible meeting in the Bhutanese capital.

The Pakistan foreign minister said, "The meeting between the foreign secretaries, to my mind, was a step in the right direction, but the outcome was disappointing. Nothing came out of the meeting."

Qureshi was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 16th South Asian Association Regional Cooperation summit in Thimphu.

"It's the political leadership that gives or starts the way forward. Foreign secretaries don't do that," he said.

Qureshi, who went to a SAARC exhibition alongside External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, suggested that his country wanted to have 'beautiful' relations with India.

"The climate here is beautiful. Don't you want relations between India and Pakistan to be beautiful as well," Qureshi told reporters when asked whether the cool climes of Thimphu would have an impact on Indo-Pak ties.

Asked about the possibility of talks between the prime ministers of the two countries, he said, "We can talk about talks. One always lives on hope".

He added, "Talking and engaging is the most sensible way forward".

Later, commenting on the handshake between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington earlier in April, Qureshi said, "We need to go beyond the handshakes. Handshakes won't do."

"Let's not underestimate the challenges that faces the subcontinent, that are looking at us in the face, the challenges of poverty, challenges of terrorism, the challenge of climate change and illiteracy," Qureshi added.

On the Mumbai terror attacks and lone apprehended terrorist Ajmal Kasab now facing trial in India, Qureshi said, "Why can't we be forward looking? What happened in Mumbai was tragic, (let us) put it behind us. We've to look forward. There are many such incidents that have taken place in the region, in Pakistan, in Afghanistan and other areas of the world. We have to move forward and adopt a cooperative approach to deal with the menace of terrorism."

On Pakistan's interior ministry seeking Kasab's custody, he said, "The interior ministry of Pakistan just narrated the instructions of the court. I would not comment on it because the matter is sub-judice. The matter is under trial. Let's wait till the court gives its verdict and it would be appropriate to comment then and not at this stage."

On the resumption of the composite dialogue process, he said, "India needs to understand what the people and the region want -- they want development. It wants to fight poverty, illiteracy. For that, hearts have to meet."

Pakistan has made an initiative and India has to understand that democratic forces are being appreciated there, he said.