Wednesday, August 3 2005 11:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Closer cooperation between India and Pakistan would usher in an era of prosperity in South Asia, India's High Commissioner to Pakistan Shivshankar Menon said here yesterday (August 2, 2005).

During his meeting with Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Amir Hussain, Menon called for closer cooperation between the two countries in international fora.

Hussain said closer cooperation between India and Pakistan and resolution of disputed issues, including Kashmir, was in the interest of the people of both the countries as it would unlock tremendous resources for the development and prosperity of the region.

Hussain, who visited India last year, called for better understanding and reducing the trust-deficit between the two countries. Parliamentarians of both the countries should rise to the occasion and play their role in resolving the long-standing issues and disputes between India and Pakistan, he said.

He said Pakistan was fully committed to the ongoing composite dialogue process with India and hoped the leadership of both the countries would succeed in resolving all disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir.

Highlighting the importance of local bodies in Pakistan, he said that local bodies were the backbone of democratic institutions and a conduit for empowerment of people at grass root level.