New Delhi: India today (Nov 24, 2004) told Pakistan that it was committed to addressing all bilateral issues including Jammu and Kashmir in a "sincere and purposeful manner."

Briefing newspersons on the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said both leaders expressed satisfaction that the dialogue process was making progress and that they wanted to carry it forward.

Spotlight: Kashmir is NOT negotiable

Saran said Singh told the Pakistani leader that India was committed to addressing all items of bilateral issues including Jammu and Kashmir in a sincere and purposeful manner.

Both the Prime Ministers had a restricted meeting for 45 minutes assisted by a few aides, which was followed by the delegation level talks extended over a lunch at the Hyderabad House in Delhi.

The meeting gave them an opportunity to review bilateral ties and the peace process the two countries have embarked upon.

Both sides were committed to approaching the second phase of the composite dialogue with all seriousness, Saran said.

As SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) chairman Aziz invited the Prime Minister for the upcoming summit of the regional grouping in Dhaka in January.

Both the leaders agreed that SAARC was not living up to its potential and that they should work together to realise it.