"We are hopeful that the September 8 meeting (between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Pakistan counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar) will lead to positive developments...The confidence building measures (with regards to Kashmir) will move forward," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He said he was expecting progress on easing of visa laws between the two countries and measures for boosting cross-LoC trade, including opening bank branches on either side.
The union minister said Ajmal Aamir Kasab, whose death sentence was upheld by Supreme Court, should face the law for killing so many people during the 26/11 attack on Mumbai in 2008.
"Who am I to interfere in the verdict of the Supreme Court? What have I got to do with that?" he said.
Abdullah said Kasab had killed so many people and he should be made answerable for his actions.
"He killed so many people...Let him answer for that," he said.
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Abdullah said the recent meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari would have a positive outcome.
"Only by meeting and talking can we remove the misunderstandings. If we maintain distance, the misunderstandings will only increase," he said.
Asked about the implementation on the recommendations made in the Justice Sagheer report, Abdullah said he was at present in the Centre.
"Ask me about Government of India," he said.