India, Pakistan agree to pursue peace process

India and Pakistan agreed to pursue the present peace process and make efforts so the process is not in anyway adversely affected.

The agreement came at talks between Indian External Affairs Secretary Shyam Sharan and his Pakistan counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan here Monday night before the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Foreign Ministers meeting held here Tuesday.

The Foreign Secretary-level talk was scheduled to be held in New Delhi on July 21, but India postponed it following Mumbai bomb blasts on July 11.

"(The) peace process between the two countries is important and all possible efforts should be made to see that the process is not anyway adversely affected," Shyam Sharan told journalists after nearly one-hour talks.

In reply to a question, he said all aspects of bilateral relations were discussed at the meeting.

Asked about any date for further meeting on composite dialogue, Sharan said they agreed to be in touch.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khan described the talks as " positive".

"We're all convinced that peace is important. There is no other option but to pursue it," Khan said.

About Mumbai blasts, he reiterated that Pakistan is ready to cooperate with the investigation and said terrorism is an issue that preoccupies everybody throughout the world.

Source: Xinhua