Friday, February 11 2005 21:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Ahead of his visit to Pakistan, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh today (Feb 11, 2005) said the Composite Dialogue Process between the two countries was proceeding well and he was hopeful of a positive outcome.

He described Pakistan's response to Indian decision to hold consultations with Islamabad on launching the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline as "encouraging" and said the three countries needed to proceed on the project as fast as possible.

"The Composite Dialogue Process has not slowed down. It is moving well," he said disagreeing with a suggestion by a reporter that the process has witnessed a lull.

After releasing a book 'South Asian Union', Singh in an informal chat with reporters in New Delhi pointed out that the ongoing dialogue process had started after the January 6, 2004 talks between then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad.

"Since the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government came to power, there have been meetings every month. Solutions are not expected that fast," the Minister said, and added that the talks at this pace had not happened in many years.

He said an atmosphere was building up in which a realisation was dawning that India and Pakistan are big countries and should come close.

"Diplomacy offers hope, not salvation. I am hopeful," he said when asked about his upcoming trip to Pakistan.

Singh will visit Pakistan for three days from February 15 and hold talks with his counterpart Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri on all outstanding issues.