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Lawmakers and diplomats from India and Pakistan held formal talks on various issues here on Friday and expressed their desire to take the slow-moving peace process forward. Khurram Dastgir Khan, a lawmaker from Pakistan , expressed satisfaction over the dialogue between the two nations, and added that both the sides are eager to resolve various outstanding issues. "The issue of terrorism and counter terrorism. We are seeking peace, we are dreaming of peace with our eyes open. It does not mean that we are closing our eyes to these very difficult subjects like counter terrorism or Kashmir or water or the situation in Afghanistan , Sir Creek and Siachin," said Khan. "I emphasize again that we are dreaming of peace with our eyes open; while we recognize that these difficult issues are there, but we must move forward," he added. Khan further emphasized that people of Pakistan are eager to strengthen ties with India . "We represent the people of our respective countries. The Pakistani delegation that is here represents the people of Pakistan . We speak on behalf of the people. Our sentiments, our opinions, our suggestions represent the will of Pakistan and that will is currently good. There is goodwill from the people of Pakistan towards the people of India ," he said. Meanwhile, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha, who also participated in the 4th round of Parliamentarians Dialogue, said that the objective of the meet was to foster close ties between the people of the two nations. "The message of this meeting is to the people of both countries to live in peace and prosper together," he said. Sinha further said that the representatives of both the sides discussed the steps that need to be taken to promote cooperation in various sectors. "We discussed education. We discussed local government, we discussed health and these are all issues where our recommendation will be shared by our respective governments and I congratulate the Pakistani delegation that a very important suggestion has been made from their side that this should be brought before both Houses of the parliament," he said. Sabir Ali Baloch, Deputy Chairman, Senate of Pakistan, and senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar also participated in the 4th round of Parliamentarians' Dialogue. India had previously broken the peace talks with Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 in which 166 people were killed.

India, Pakistan discuss steps to expedite peace process