Odishatv Bureau
Islamabad: Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday expressed satisfaction at the resolve of India and Pakistan to continue their bilateral talks and not be deterred by terrorists` "designs to derail the dialogue once again."

Gilani made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G L Peiris at the Prime Minister`s House.

Pakistan has strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, he said.

The Premier`s comments came a day after External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said India would go ahead with Foreign Minister-level talks with Pakistan as scheduled at the end of this month despite the triple blasts in Mumbai that killed 18 people on Wednesday.

Pakistan`s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar is scheduled to visit New Delhi for talks with Krishna.

In 2008, India suspended the composite dialogue process after 10 members of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group attacked Mumbai, killing 166 people.

During his interaction with Peiris, Gilani said the countries of the region should remain committed to getting rid of the menace of terrorism just as Sri Lanka has done.

"The Prime Minister placed great emphasis on peace in the region and said that Pakistan wants to maintain friendly relations with all its neighbours, including India, Iran and Afghanistan," an official statement said.

"He stated that stability in Afghanistan is most important," it said.

Gilani said Pakistan supports an "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of reconciliation" in Afghanistan.

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