ISLAMABAD, 16 May 2004 — Pakistan’s Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said yesterday the peace process with India would continue, despite a change in government in the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) defeat in the elections.

“The peace process shall continue as it is in the interest of the peoples of both India and Pakistan”, Jamali told reporters in Islamabad after attending a briefing at the country’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

The prime minister said Sonia Gandhi, set to become India’s next prime minister, and other Indian Congress party leaders had also expressed the desire to continue with the peace process.

He said the Pakistani government had the support of the people and the Parliament in carrying forward the peace process and holding a dialogue with India to settle the Kashmir dispute.

The two South Asian neighbors are set to begin a composite dialogue at foreign secretaries level toward the end of this month as a sequel to the landmark meeting between President Pervez Musharraf and outgoing Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in January this year

The disputed Kashmir region has been at the heart of two of three wars between Pakistan and India and has been the focus of intermittent tensions since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

Jamali also vowed yesterday not to allow a handful of terrorists to disrupt peace and impede the process of development in the country.

“The government would not allow a handful of terrorists to disrupt peace and tranquility in the country,” he said while talking to a 10-member delegation from Balochistan, headed by Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf which called on him at the Prime Minister House.

Jamali said the recent incidents of terrorism were designed to halt the process of development and to create instability.

The delegation discussed with the prime minister matters pertaining to the province with special reference to the ongoing development schemes and projects and the law and order situation in the province.

Prime Minister Jamali directed the provincial administration to remain vigilant with regard to maintenance of law and order and to keep an eye on all unscrupulous elements.

The general political situation in the country also came under discussion during the meeting.

The delegation felicitated the prime minister on recent unification of the PML factions and said this development augurs well for the future of democracy in the country.

The delegation included Sen. Naseer Mengal, Abdur Rehman Jamali, Wassan Shah, Raja Ghulam Nabi and Abdur Rehman Kethran.