Pak for better relations with India: Naek

President Asif Ali Zardari is making all possible efforts to improve India-Pakistan relations and the current government is actively pursuing a policy that will lead to a qualitative improvement in relations with New Delhi, acting President Farooq Naek said on Thursday.

Naek made the remarks at a reception he hosted tonight for a visiting Indian parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

Naek said the dialogue and the healthy exchange of ideas were essential for resolving all "core issues between the two countries, including Kashmir and water issues".

President Zardari had "made it a point to make all efforts possible to improve Pakistan-India relations", he said.

The current government is "actively pursuing a policy to bring about a qualitative improvement in relations with India", he added.

Pakistan wanted peaceful and friendly relations with all its neighbours, including India, as it believed in the need for greater cooperation for regional stability, said Naek, the chairman of the Senate or upper house of parliament.

Naek, who acted as host for the reception as Zardari was away on a private visit to Dubai, said: "It's time we solve all our issues, including Kashmir and water, for peace and better relationship through an open, meaningful and result-oriented dialogue, keeping in view aspirations and wishes of the people and international law, which would herald a new beginning and bring peace, prosperity and economic well-being for all of us".

Meanwhile, Speaker Meira Kumar stated that India wished to see a stable, peaceful and prosperous Pakistan. "There is consensus in the Indian Parliament on building a relationship of trust and mutually beneficial co-operation between India and Pakistan in an atmosphere free of terror and violence. Such a relationship would be to the benefit of people of both countries and will also contribute to prosperity in the region," she said.

Earlier in the day, Kumar interacted with the Women Caucus in the Parliament of Pakistan. The interaction focused on the role of women Parliamentarians in addressing issues pertaining to development, welfare of women and strengthening of democracy.

The Speaker and her delegation also met the Parliamentary Friendship Group for India in the National Assembly of Pakistan. The interaction was hosted by the former Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Convener of the Group Qamar Zaman Karia.

Members from both side expressed their views on various aspects of bilateral relationship and welcomed the idea of institutionalizing interaction between the Parliamentary Friendship Groups established in the Parliament of each country.