Dialogue only way forward for Pakistan, India, says Gilani

Pakistani residents stand beside the burning wreckage of a car belonging to militant group Lashker-e-Islam during security operation in Bara, a town of Khyber agency, on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday said that dialogue with India was the only way forward for the nuclear-armed rivals if they want to beat the militants.
"If we do not go for dialogue that means that we strengthen terrorism," Gilani told a press conference in Islamabad he had called to brief the media about his meeting this week with Indian Premier Manmohan Singh.
"Therefore it is in the interest of both the countries and the way forward only is dialogue," Gilani added.
The rare meeting between the Indian and Pakistani premiers this week in Egypt ended with a pledge to cooperate on terrorism that has triggered anger and consternation back in New Delhi.
Singh faced criticism back home from the opposition and a section of the Indian media for conceding too much ground to Gilani on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit.
A joint statement from the two leaders said that action on terrorism "should not be linked" to peace talks between the South Asian rivals.
Gilani brushed aside a Friday statement from the Indian prime minister in parliament that there would be no resumption of formal peace talks with Pakistan until Islamabad brings those behind last year's Mumbai attacks to justice.
"Whatever he (Singh) has said on the floor of the house in India, I think that is the stand which we took and I think that would really help the two countries to move forward," Gilani said.
The peace process between the neighbours was put on hold following the November 2008 attacks on India's financial and entertainment capital in which 166 people died.
New Delhi has blamed the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and said it has "overwhelming evidence" that "official agencies" in Pakistan were involved in plotting and carrying out the 60-hour siege.
Gilani said Pakistan was probing the case. An anti-terrorism court in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi Saturday adjourned proceedings against five accused including the alleged mastermind Zakiduddin Lakhvi till July 25.
"We reiterated our determination to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack to justice," Gilani said referring to his meeting with Singh on Thursday.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who arrived in India late Friday, said she had been "very impressed" by the Singh-Gilani meeting and saw the joint pledge to cooperate in the fight against terrorism as a positive step.
"I really see events moving in a very positive direction," Clinton said in a pre-arrival interview with CNN-IBN television.
"In part, because of the shared sacrifice, commitment and understanding that now exists about the threats terrorists pose to both countries."