Islamabad: Ahead of his meeting with the External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said he expects success in the current Indo-Pak Composite Dialogue process to resolve contentious issues.

Pakistan and India could live like good friends like other countries and he expects success in the ongoing Indo-Pak parleys, Musharraf said at a meeting with Prime Minister Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain last night (Jul 21, 2004) to review the progress in the current round of talks.

The Pakistani President, who is scheduled to meet Singh tomorrow (Jul 23, 2004), said that talks with India must continue for better future and peace in South Asia and that Pakistan's foreign policy is based on openness and desire to hold dialogue with all countries.

The meeting followed parleys between Hussain and Singh yesterday.

This will be the first meeting between a top Indian Minister and Musharraf after the Congress-led Government took over power in India. Last month Communications Minister, Dayanidhi Maran met the military ruler along with fellow SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Ministers on the sidelines of regional block's Ministers meet. Singh, who is here since July 19 to attend the SAARC Foreign Ministers meeting will be leaving for home tomorrow after his parleys with Musharraf.

The meeting between Hussain and Musharraf was the first ever since the Pakistan President returned from a week-long holiday in Turkey two days ago. Earlier he toured Sweden, Finland and Azerbaijan.