Gilani says Pak, India should begin Composite Dialogue

Pakistan Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani

Gilani's comments came a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India wanted peace with Pakistan and that he would meet its leadership "more than halfway" if it cracked down on terrorism directed against this country by taking "strong and effective" steps.

Islamabad, June 10 : Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today said Pakistan will offer the Indian leadership an "olive branch" to resume the bilateral Composite Dialogue as both countries cannot afford war.

"Pakistan and India faced common problems and it was in the interest of the whole region for the two nuclear powers to resume the dialogue which had stopped after last year's Mumbai attacks," Gilani said, while addressing students and faculty members of the army's Command and Staff College in Quetta.

However, he did not elaborate on what he meant by olive branch.

Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and senior military officials were present on the occasion.

Gilani's comments came a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India wanted peace with Pakistan and that he would meet its leadership "more than halfway" if it cracked down on terrorism directed against this country by taking "strong and effective" steps.

Gilani said Pakistan was fighting the war against terrorism for its own survival. The government started military operation in parts of Malakand division as a last option after militants challenged the writ of the government and wanted to disintegrate the country despite the implementation of Islamic laws, he said. PTI