New York, Sept. 26: Ahead of a possible meeting of their foreign ministers here, India and Pakistan have underlined that despite their differences on issues like Kashmir and terrorism they have no other alternative but to engage in dialogue.
“Today there is a realisation that a negotiated solution is the only sensible way,” said the Pakistan foreign minister, Mr Shah Mahmood Qureshi, stressing his support for the composite dialogue while addressing the Asia Society here.
“India wants to keep Pakistan engaged in talks because we do not see any other alternative ... talks are the only way to take this forward,” said the external affairs minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, at a reception held at the Indian Mission to the United Nations.
Mr Krishna will be in New York till September 29 while Mr Qureshi till September 30.
Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday that Mr Qureshi and Mr Krishna are likely to meet on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nation General Assembly session.
During a “chance encounter” between the two leaders on Thursday, Mr Qureshi had exchanged pleasantries and thanked Mr Krishna for the help given to Pakistan by India through the UN for the flood-affected people.
The paper quoted a Pakistani diplomat as saying that Mr Qureshi had earlier told his Indian counterpart that Islamabad favoured a result-oriented meeting, not another photo opportunity.