Zardari meets Krishna, seeks intel sharing

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna called on Asif Ali Zardari and discussed the issue of terrorism, with the Pakistani President stressing on timely intelligence sharing between the two countries to prevent acts of terror. Krishna, who met Zardari and discussed issues of bilateral concern.

Zardari said that "destinies of the people of both Pakistan and India and development of the entire region lies in friendly, cooperation and good neighbourly relations between the two countries." A statement from the Presidency said Zardari "stressed for timely information and intelligence sharing between the two counties to prevent any incident of terrorism and violence and that terror incidents don't affect our ties in the future." Krishna was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal. From the Pakistani side those who attended the meeting included Qureshi, Interior Minister Rahman Malik and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir. While appreciating the re-engagement between the two countries, Zardari said that heavy responsibility devolves on both Pakistan and India to have a sustained dialogue and steer "our nations from the path of conflict to

a cooperative course for the uplift and welfare of the region and the people of the two countries."

"The President said that the resumption of composite dialogue will help remove mistrust and restore confidence in relations between the two countries," the statement said, adding, it would also help resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir, water, Sir Creek, Siachen, terrorism and other issues impeding mutual cooperation. He said that the water issue was becoming serious as it had adverse impacts on Pakistan's agriculture and added that the Indus Water Treaty should be fully honoured and implemented. Zardari also said that trade relations between the two countries would see a marked increase once the resumed dialogue process continued without any interruption. The President while referring to Pakistan's fight against extremism said that terrorism is a common enemy and Pakistan is against militancy and terrorism in any form and in any location and both the governments needed to work more closely to eliminate this menace.