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Malik wants to discuss all issues with Chidambaram

June 24, 2010 18:49 IST

As he prepares to host Home Minister P Chidambaram, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Thursday that he would like to discuss all issues that have been "creating irritation" in the bilateral ties in a "transparent" and "very responsible" manner.

Malik said Pakistan wants friendly ties with India and welcomed Chidambaram's visit to Islamabad beginning on Friday for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation home ministers' meeting.

"Well, they must have brought an agenda. We will also bring our agenda and discuss it on the table in a transparent and very responsible manner," Malik told the media in Islamabad when asked about the agenda for his meeting with Chidambaram.

Chidambaram, the first Indian minister to visit Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, will arrive in Islamabad on Friday and hold discussions with Malik. He is expected to press for probe against Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Saeed and seek voice samples of handlers of Mumbai attackers.

Malik said he had been having "indirect conservations" with Chidambaram through dossiers on the Mumbai attacks.

"Indian authorities and Pakistani authorities are meeting, as you know there was a gap earlier. So welcome incoming guests from India," he said.

About differences in the bilateral relations, Malik said: "We want friendship. We want to bring every issue which has been creating irritation between India and Pakistan."
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