TEHRAN, Aug 29: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said on Wednesday Pakistan was optimistic that upcoming talks between President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit would prove significant in its efforts for resolving the most important issues between the two countries.

“We are moving out of trust deficit zone, and that is a pre-requisite for us to be able to really sit on the negotiating table and solve most important issues,” Ms Khar told reporters a day ahead of the meeting between Mr Zardari and Mr Singh here. The meeting will be their second in four months.

The foreign minister said the environment for Pakistan and India was now moving towards trust building. “All previous talks between the two leaders have been very useful, particularly in New Delhi, and we hope the same spirit would continue in Tehran,” she said.

Ms Khar said both sides needed to show commitment to move forward.

“As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is committed to moving forward beyond any other issues that might arise between the two countries.”

Regarding her talks with Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna in Islamabad next month, Ms Khar said she hoped for a productive meeting.

About reports in the Indian media about some SMS and e-mail messages about ethnic tension in parts of India allegedly emanating from Pakistan, she said there was a need to find a more mature way to handle such issues as these would continue to haunt the two countries.

“I am very disappointed every time something reaches Pakistan through the media because we believe that we have been able to invest in this relationship enough to expect a call from any counterpart if any such concern or suspicion arises, because we have to move beyond this.”

The foreign minister said she believed that the Indian media needed to be more positive to help the two countries solve their problems.

She pointed out that Pakistan had repeatedly expressed willingness to help and resolve the issues in a useful manner.—APP