Pakistan hopes the Congress-led government would "carry forward the peace process, which is already on and has taken a lot of time and effort of both the governments".

Asked whether Islamabad was ready to postpone for sometime the expert-level talks slated for next week since the new government might seek some time, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri told CNBC channel, "We are realistic."

On the Congress' stand that all issues must be discussed under the framework of the 1972 Simla Agreement, he said, "Lots of things have happened in Kashmir. People have given sacrifices… we have said that the Line of Control is completely unacceptable to us."

He also said, "We understand that both governments will have to shift from their stated positions regardless of any agreement."

Putting the Kashmir issue behind could only be possible if the two countries found a solution to the problem, he said.

Kasuri said if this was not done there would be no durable peace. "After all both countries want durable peace."

Indicating that he saw no hiccups in the peace process moving ahead, Kasuri said he knew that the Congress had been supporting the initiative taken by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf.

Both had shown leadership, courage and imagination, he said. "The difficult job has already been done."

On the perception in Pakistan that the peace process could go forward only if the Bharatiya Janata Party was in power in India and the army was behind the administration in Pakistan, he said, "BJP has set the ball in motion, making it easier for others to follow."

Kasuri noted that there had been positive signs by the Congress-ruled governments in the past. He cited the example of former Pakistan president Zia-ul Haq and the then Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi agreeing on confidence-building measures.

The minister brushed aside a question that as a person of Italian origin, Gandhi would have found it difficult to make concessions.

He termed as an "internal affair" of India the choice of PM. "Gandhi is the leader of the Congress party. That is what the masses have indicated," he said, noting that she had made "positive" statements on improving Indo-Pak relations.

He also felicitated Manmohan Singh on his appointment to the top slot. "He has international exposure. He is an internationally renowned economist and he has international connections. He will be able to also understand the concerns of the international community," he said.

On the likelihood of K Natwar Singh becoming the new foreign minister, Kasuri said he would welcome his appointment. "He is experienced and respected."