Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh on Thursday said a foundation of 'positive sentiment and hope' laid in bilateral relations of Pakistan and India and was capable of yielding more positive results. He was talking to newsmen here at Delhi airport on his return after three-day official visit to Pakistan. Natwar Singh said that his talks with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri were held in cordiality and shared desire to take relations towards the goal of peace, mutual understanding and shared prosperity.

"There is a groundswell of goodwill and positive sentiment among people in both countries for a relationship free from hostility," the minister added.

Expressing that the sentiment of goodwill had enabled the two governments to conclude 'significant agreements' aimed at building confidence and trust, Natwar Singh said there is a foundation of positive sentiment and hope at all levels that the current peace process is firmly anchored and more capable of yielding results.

"No doubt we have differences between us," the minister said, adding that during his talks with the Pakistani leadership, he had underlined that the peace process can only be sustained in an atmosphere free of violence and terrorism and the assurances given in the January 6, 2004 joint statement must be implemented fully.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005