Islamabad: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has advocated for talks between India and his country.

In his letter to the Indian Foreign Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday, Shah congratulated him for his appointment as External Affairs Minister. Dr Jaishankar, a former Foreign Secretary, has succeeded Sushma Swaraj.

Earlier on June 5, Sohail Mahmood, Pakistan Foreign Secretary and former high commissioner had visited India on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Before returning to Pakistan on April 14, Mahmood had also stated that dialogue between India and Pakistan was the only option to understand mutual concerns and ensure peace, prosperity, and security in the region. He said Pakistan was hoping for “re-engagement” with India after the Lok Sabha polls.

“Sustained engagement and structured dialogue would enable the two countries to understand mutual concerns and differences, resolve outstanding disputes and build the edifice of durable peace, security and prosperity in the region,” Mahmood had said.

India has not been engaging with Pakistan following the attack on the Air Force base at Pathankot in January of 2016, maintaining that talks and terror cannot go together. 

Breaking the ice in bilateral ties, Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 26 spoke to Modi on phone and expressed his desire to work together for peace and prosperity in the region. 

Modi on his part called for creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism for fostering peace and prosperity in the region.