Aziz Ahmed Khan, Pakistan's high commissioner designate, hoped that India and his country will sit across the table and resolve all problem, including the 'core' issue of Kashmir.

Khan said he will be taking over his assignment with 'hope and expectation'.

Addressing his last weekly briefing before relinquishing the post of foreign office spokesman, Khan, an old India hand, said, "We feel that the negotiation process should start as quickly as possible. We are ready for it whether these negotiations are held at the secretary level, at the political level or at the summit level."

Khan said India would not find Pakistan wanting in responding positively to any suggestion for a meaningful, sustained and result-oriented dialogue.

"There is a fair degree of optimism on both sides and we hope that this process will keep gathering momentum," he said.