Pakistan to raise all issues in key security talks with India

Pakistan will raise all issues with India during the two-day talks of the National Security Advisers starting in New Delhi on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz will represent Pakistan in the Aug. 23-24 talks that will focus on anti-terror cooperation and to explore ways to reduce tensions.

Recent cross-border shelling has caused diplomatic tensions between the nuclear rivals.

Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said Pakistan and India are in contact to finalize the agenda of the talks.

"There are serious issues between the two countries and negotiations are necessary for resolving them," the spokesman said at his weekly briefing.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the LoC in 2003; however, both sides occasionally trade fire. The recent escalation of tensions has caused casualties on both sides.

"Peace and tranquillity along LoC and Working Boundary is in the interest of both sides. Pakistan wishes to maintain good relations with all its neighboring countries which requires peaceful atmosphere," Khalilullah said.