NEW DELHI/GENEVA, Oct 9: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today stressed the need for dismantling terrorist networks within Pakistan’s territory and upholding the sanctity of the Line of Control as the most important Confidence Building Measure.
Ms Kumar conveyed her concern over continuing terror emanating from Pakistan and areas under its control at a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on the sidelines of 129th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva.
India, Ms Kumar said, desires peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations with Pakistan and is also committed to resolving all outstanding issues bilaterally.
She hoped that the necessary climate is established for advancing the bilateral relationship.
Mr Sadiq acknowledged the need to resolve immediate areas of concern as highlighted by Ms Kumar.
The meeting, at Mr Sadiq’s request, was the first of Ms Kumar with the newly-appointed Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly.
It may be recalled that Ms Kumar had led a 15-member Indian Parliamentary delegation to Pakistan in February 2012, which was followed by the visit of a 14-member Pakistan Parliamentary delegation led by Syed Hussain Bokhari, Chairman of Senate of Pakistan in December 2012, an official statement said here.
Ms Kumar also recalled the warmth and affection with which she was received during her visit last year to Pakistan and also her fruitful interactions with the country’s leadership.
Mr Sadiq expressed a keen desire for continued engagement of Parliamentarians of the two countries to contribute towards developing a healthy Pakistan-India relationship.
He outlined his efforts to revamp the Pakistan-India Friendship Group within the Pakistan National Assembly, which will soon discuss ways to further engagement among Parliamentarians of the two countries.
Mr Sadiq also referred to the recent meeting of the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India is New York as an important step in advancing bilateral relations.
The scheduling of the next SAARC Speakers’ meeting slated to be held in Male later this year also came up for discussion, the statement added. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel