Gilani, Karzai meeting provided good opportunity for frank, indepth exchange of views: FO
ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (APP): Commenting on speculative media reports on the meeting between Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and President Hamid Karzai, the Foreign Office on Saturday said that this bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit in Maldives was held in a cordial atmosphere and provided a good opportunity for a frank and indepth exchange of views. Spokesperson of Foreign Office in a statement issued here Saturday said that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani recounted Pakistan’s consistent efforts to have the best of relations with Afghanistan and several initiatives taken in this regard.  Pakistan supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of reconciliation and peace and would continue to work constructively for strengthening friendly and brotherly relations with Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said.
 On matters relating to reconciliation and peace, the Prime Minister said that it was for Afghanistan to specify and lead the process. Professor Rabbani’s tragic assassination constituted a setback to the process. Professor Rabbani was highly respected and a good friend of Pakistan, the Prime Minister said.
 President Karzai affirmed the importance that Afghanistan attached to its relations with Pakistan. Both sides agreed that the decisions reached at the recent Istanbul Trilateral Summit should be implemented.
 The Spokesperson added that Pakistan had always demonstrated goodwill towards Afghanistan and believed that reinvigoration of a cooperative approach was important. The Maldives bilateral meeting was a step in that direction.