India, Pakistan can come closer as friendly neighbours: Hina Rabbani

New Delhi, July 26 (ANI): Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who arrived here this afternoon to participate in the foreign ministerial-level talks on Wednesday, said the two nations can come closer as friendly neighbours with a stake in each other's future.

"This is my first trip to India and to New Delhi as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. I bring the good wishes of the people of Pakistan, of the Government of Pakistan and hope that these two countries, we have learnt lessons from history, but are not burdened by history," said Khar on her arrival here.

"We can move forward as good, friendly neighbours who have a stake in each other's future and who understand the responsibility that both the countries have to the region and within the region," she added.

Thirty four-year-old Khar, who is Pakistan's first woman Foreign Minister, was received by Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Shahid Malik, India's High Commissioner to Pakistan, Sharat Sabharwal, Joint Secretary (Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan) Y. K Sinha and others.

Hina Rabbani Khar will hold talks with External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday.

She will be meeting Hurriyat leaders this evening, including Democratic Freedom Party (DPF) chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chief (hardline faction) Syed Ali Shah Geelani, All Party Hurriyat Conference chairman (moderate faction) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik.

Though the Indian Government expected such a meeting to take place at the Pakistan High Commission, it is reportedly unhappy over the development, and hopes Khar will impress upon the separatists to work for and promote peace in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir are presently holding discussions at Hyderabad House here to firm up the agenda for the ministerial-level talks on Wednesday.

Salman Bashir, who arrived here with a five-member Pakistani delegation on Monday evening, said that there is no trust deficit in so far as the upper echelons at the leadership level is concerned. (ANI)