Islamabad: Contending that it attached great importance to relations with India, Pakistan today said it is making sincere efforts to restore peace and security in the region by promoting dialogue between the two countries.

This was stated by Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri in Islamabad while responding to a Calling Attention Notice in the National Assembly.

Both the countries are moving forward in the right direction to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, Kasuri said.

"The new Indian Foreign Minister (K Natwar Singh) has twice talked on telephone with me and expressed his resolve to further move forward the dialogue process with sincerity," he said.

When MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) MP Farooq Sattar asked him why Pakistan High Commissioner to New Delhi Aziz Ahmed Khan was not present at a meeting of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) High Commissioners convened by Singh, Kasuri said Aziz was out of India with the permission of the Government and the Deputy High Commissioner was very much present in the meeting.

"We received the report of the proceedings of that meeting immediately," he told the member.

Aziz was abroad to attend the convocation ceremony of his son.

Kasuri said Pakistan Foreign Office and its missions abroad work in an institutionalised manner and absence of any person from his office does not make any difference and it does not affect working.