NEW DELHI: Expressing disappointment over failure of Indo-Pakistan talks on resumption of overflights and air links between the two countries, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Agha Shahi said early this morning [May 20] that Islamabad was determined to carry on the process of normalisation envisaged in the Simla declaration.
However, he expressed the hope at a predawn Press conference at Palam airport that the dialogue ... will continue and the next round will resolve the issue. ...
In a prepared statement Mr. Shahi said: `The Pakistan delegation is extremely disappointed that it has not been possible to reach an agreement in regard to the resumption of overflights and air-links. ... It was our sincere belief that an agreement ... would contribute greatly ... to the normalisation of relations... .
To this end the Pakistan delegation worked out several formulations in order to achieve a compromise... . ... [T]he Pakistan delegation hopes that the dialogue ... would continue... .
Our present visit to New Delhi has been most useful, as it has enabled us to exchange views with the Indian side on a wide range of issues of fundamental importance to the two countries and to the region as a whole.
