"Good relations with India will remain our policy. The Mumbai attacks caused a setback for bilateral relations," Qureshi remarked.

"There is a pause in the composite dialogue but we will endeavour to end this pause and move towards normal relations. We must emerge from the stress that has developed in our relations," he said.

After the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan adopted a strategy with three objectives to reduce tensions with India, Qureshi said. The first objective was to avoid war as it offers no solutions and would only complicate matters, he added.

The second objective was to protect Pakistan from international isolation and the third was to save the country from internal destabilisation. "I will not say we have achieved the objectives as yet but we are close to achieving them," he said.

Internal stability is a basic pre-requisite to counter the many challenges facing Pakistan, Qureshi said.

He also said there was no link between the Kashmir issue and the Mumbai attacks. "Pakistan's stand on the Kashmir issue remains the same. Mumbai is an issue that is related to terrorism," he said.

Pakistan wants a solution that will ensure attacks do not occur in India or any other country. "We have to get to the bottom of the matter so that such incidents are not repeated in future. The region is facing the threat of terrorism. There should be a regional approach for a solution," he said.

"We want good relations with all our neighbours be it India, China or Iran. Good relations with India are in Pakistan's interests. It will ensure stability in Pakistan."