Pakistan FM calls for ‘composite dialogue’ with India

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called for a "composite dialogue" with India to address the contentious issues between the two sides.

Addressing the Senate on Thursday night, Dar said the "ceasefire" with India has been extended till May 18, but a political dialogue will ultimately have to take place to resolve the problems between the two neighbours.

"We have told the world that we will hold a composite dialogue," Dar, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said.

He also said that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India would again get in contact on May 18, reports Dawn

Meanwhile, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said yesterday the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should reconsider a one billion dollar loan to Pakistan, alleging Islamabad was "funding terror".

"I believe a big portion of the $1 billion coming from IMF will be used for funding terror infrastructure," Singh told troops at an air force base in western India. "I believe any economic assistance to Pakistan is nothing less than funding terror".

India and Pakistan last week launched missiles, drones and artillery strikes on each other before a ceasefire that began Saturday.

The IMF last week approved a loan programme review for Pakistan, unlocking around $1 billion in much-needed funds and greenlighting a new $1.4 billion bailout despite India's objections, reports AFP.

India -- which also represents Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh on the IMF board -- abstained on the review vote, a statement from its finance ministry voicing "concerns over the efficacy of IMF programmes in case of Pakistan given its poor track record".

Singh claimed it was "now clear that in Pakistan terrorism and their government are hand in glove with each other.

"In this situation there is a possibility that their nuclear weapons could get their way into the hands of terrorists. This is a danger not just for Pakistan but the entire world," he said.