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Pakistan seeks removal of ‘air of mistrust’

Washington: Taking note of the “trust deficit” in its relations with India, Pakistan has sought removal of the “air of mistrust.” The people have outpaced the governments in their desire for normalisation of bilateral ties, it said.

“I see a desire on both sides for normalisation. My feeling is that people have outpaced the governments.... This region has suffered because of our acrimony and hostility, and the world is moving on and we are lagging behind. Nobody is going to be waiting for us,” Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is on a visit here, told The Washington Post.

Pointing out that he had recently visited New Delhi, he said he told Indian officials there that “an opportunity has come and if they do not grab, it will go.”

The response from Indian officials to a rapprochement was positive, he said.

His comments were quite similar to what he had said during a lecture at Brookings Institution on Friday.

“And I feel a positive development in our relationship. I see a desire on both sides to move on and get things done — move on in trade issues, move on people-to-people contacts.” he said while replying to a question. — PTI

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