Gilani says he will meet Singh with 'open mind'

Ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Sharm El-Sheikh, Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani today said he will approach it with an "open heart and positive mind" as he underlined the need for "building bridges instead of erecting walls".

Ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Sharm El-Sheikh, Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said he will approach it with an "open heart and positive mind" as he underlined the need for "building bridges instead of erecting walls".

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Gilani, who arrived in this Red Sea resort to attend the 15th NAM Summit, said he wanted to improve relations with India and that he would meet Singh with a "positive spirit."

"Efforts should be made to build bridges between the two countries instead of erecting walls," he told the Indian media here when asked about his much-awaited meeting with Singh.

Singh and Gilani will meet on Thursday at Hotel Maritim Jolie Ville Golf Resort here with the Indian leader hoping to get a categoric commitment that the Mumbai terror accused would be quickly brought to justice and Pakistan's soil will not be used for terror acts against India.

The Pakistan Premier said his country was "steadfast" on its determination to fight terrorism and extremism and asserted that Islamabad would continue making efforts to eradicate the menace. "Pakistan is a frontline state in war against terror and its role for regional peace must be acknowledged," Gilani said.