Visiting Pakistani leader and head of the Jamiat-Ulema Islam (JUI) Fazal-ur-Rahman today met Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and conveyed to him the need to ‘‘consolidate peace’’ and encourage people-to-people contact. Praising Prime Minister Vajpayee for his peace initiative in Srinagar, Rahman is believed to have told him that the love and affection he has received from the Indian people have left a ‘‘deep impression’’ on him. For his part, Vajpayee confirmed to Rahman that he would be in Pakistan for the SAARC Summit in January next year. After the meeting, which lasted for over an hour, Rahman said: ‘‘Vajpayee confirmed to us that he will be visiting Pakistan for the SAARC meet. He also told us that secretary-level talks should be resumed before that.’’ Rahman seemed to agree with the idea that a Summit-level meeting should be preceded with interactions among officials at various levels. ‘‘There is no point in having a Summit-level meeting without doing the proper homework.’’ Rahman said his party is in favour of settling all issues through negotiations. In the backdrop of the strong cultural and family links among the people of both countries, he is hopeful that a process of meaningful dialogue will see a resolution of all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan. Rahman, who is the Secretary General of the Majlis-e-Muthahida Amal, evaded questions on J-K as well as cross border terrorism saying he did not want to rake up a controversy by commenting on contentious issues. ‘‘I am on a goodwill mission and want the two countries to choose dialogue as the path to resolve all issues.’’ The JuI chief led a four-member delegation to India as part of a goodwill visit. He was accompanied by party vice-president Hafeez Hussain Ahmed and parliamentarians Gul Naseeb as well as Qazi Hamidullah. Asad Madani, senior leader of Jamiat-ulema-Hind, who is playing host to the delegation was also present.
