Tuesday, December 21 2004 21:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Observing that India wanted "practical and mutually acceptable" solutions to all disputes with neighbours, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh today (Dec 21, 2004) said the atmosphere with Pakistan had "considerably improved" as the composite dialogue process was underway.

Making a presentation before the Consultative Committee of External Affairs Ministry, Singh said India intended to have "sustained and comprehensive dialogue" with Pakistan and greater people-to-people contacts.

Emphasising that the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government had "refocused" the country's foreign policy and given higher priority to its relations with neighbours, the minister also reviewed the ties with other countries of the region -- Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Singh told the meeting that it was "important to engage neighbouring countries in the spirit of friendly and constructive process and seek practical and mutually-acceptable solutions to the disputes," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.

The meeting was told that this approach would be adopted by India at the upcoming SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Summit in Dhaka, he said.

"The atmosphere with Pakistan has considerably improved and it is our endeavour to ensure it remains so," Sarna quoted the minister as having told the meeting with the theme of his topic being 'India's relations with neighbouring countries -- SAARC and Myanmar'.