DADU, Jan 13: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said the exchange of delegations between Pakistan and India will improve relations between the countries.

Talking to journalists on Soyem of the late veteran political Abdul Hameed Khan Jatoi in Betto Jatoi here on Tuesday, he said the start of the train service also had a positive impact on relations between the two countries.

He said negotiations between Pakistan and India on all contentious issues, including the Kashmir dispute, would likely start next month. Mr Jamali said the situation along the Line of Control was moving towards normalization.

About the Khokhrapar route, he said the route would be opened soon. Talking about his visit to Afghanistan, the prime minister said better relations with Kabul would lead to a rise in trade between the two countries.

He said security would be tightened along the border with Afghanistan to control terrorist activities. Mr Jamali said his visit to Afghanistan would have better effects on relations between the two countries. He said Pakistan wanted good relations with all neighbouring countries.

Referring to suicidal attacks on President Gen Pervez Musharraf, he said the attacks were carried out by anti-state elements and were terrorist acts. He said a high-level investigation into the attacks was being held and those found guilty would be taken to task.

The prime minister claimed that the image of the country had improved due to internal and external policies of President Musharraf. About the Legal Framework Order, he told the journalists that the issue, which was he said was exploited by the opposition for political interests, was resolved after the government and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal reached an agreement.

He said he was aware of the law and order situation in Sindh and added that an operation against bandits would be launched on the Sindh-Balochistan border. He said he had directed the Sindh chief minister in this regard. Mr Jamali said his government was serving the people and gave an assurance that more job opportunities would be created.

SOYEM: Quran Khwani was held and meal was distributed among the people on Soyem of Mr Jatoi. Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said Mr Jatoi was a patriot and a principled and true politician.

Prominent leaders who attended the Soyem included Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat, Federal Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Naurez Shakoor Khan, Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar, Chief Secretary Mutawakkil Qazi, Sindh ministers Manzoor Panhwar, Imtiaz Shaikh and Irfan Gul Magsi, adviser to the CM, Naseer Khoso, Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana, MPAs Sultan Khuhawar, Faiz Mohammad Memon and MPA Amir Bux Bhutto, Hyderabad District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, Sindh National Front chairman Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Movement chairman Bashir Khan Qureshi and Sindh Democratic Alliance leader Murtaza Jatoi.