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While modalities will be worked out after a response from Islamabad, sources said the Indian side was hoping for a meeting this month.
In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said there were signals emanating from India that it was willing to hold bilateral talks.
“We welcome this if it leads to resumption of composite dialogue,” he was quoted as saying. “I think it is a very positive development, we would like to engage with India in a constructive manner.”
Earlier, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit welcomed the move to resume talks, but insisted that the talks should be “result-oriented” and cover all outstanding issues, including Kashmir and sharing of river waters.
Qureshi had provided what he called a roadmap to counterpart S M Krishna on the margins of the UN General Assembly last September. This entailed holding the first round of talks between the Foreign Secretaries, followed by one between Foreign Ministers and then a summit meeting between the two Prime Ministers. This, however, drew no response then from New Delhi which maintained that resumption of dialogue would depend only on meaningful progress in the 26/11 investigations. Even now, South Block is of the view that the meeting of Foreign Secretaries should not be construed as resumption of the dialogue process just yet.
Sources said the government is moving cautiously this time given the political backlash after the Sharm-el-Sheikh joint statement which sought to delink the dialogue process from terrorism directed at India from Pakistan soil. This time the government is keen to make the point that the core focus at the talks will be on cross-border terrorism. At the same time, the discussions will look at other “peace and stability” issues.
Home Minister P Chidambaram’s visit to Islamabad this month too will be helpful. He will be accompanied by the Home Secretary and the Director of Intelligence Bureau. Though this is a SAARC meeting, bilateral engagements will be scheduled on the margins.
India had not stopped the ongoing CBMs during the pause in dialogue after 26/11 but the absence of regular official interaction had started having an adverse impact. Bilateral trade had fallen drastically, people-to-people exchange had reduced with fewer visas being issued and cross-LoC trade could not take off fully because infrastructural issues still need to be sorted out through dialogue.
In this context, India has conveyed it will come to the table with an open mind. “We have proposed Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan. We will approach these discussions with an open and positive mind. We will raise all relevant issues from our side. The issue of counter-terrorism will be raised as will other issues that could contribute to creating an atmosphere of peace and stability between the two countries. Let us not prejudge the outcome of this meeting,” said official sources.
This dialogue also has a bearing on larger issues related to developments in the broader AfPak region. With its overtures drawing no answer from New Delhi, Islamabad had begun to take a more combative approach against involving India in any regional discussion on the future of Afghanistan. It was at Pakistan’s instance that India was not involved in the Turkey-sponsored regional meeting. The US too has been indicating to India that starting a conversation was better than having no interaction at all.
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India can not stick to its stand. Pakistan is out smarting P Chidambaram. Only way we can have a good dynamic HM is to replace PC with Gilani and pay him whatever salary he wants. With so porous boarders and so soft an attitude towards terrorism and local IM the govt. is more interested in protecting their Vote bank than any thing else.
Its true, the talks started under pressure , but still PAK Experts talks about War, Missiles aimed at India, Openly legalizing PAK Terrorism under Kashmir freedom fight, Not to settle score until India don't give up KASHMIR, India is scared because US leaving Afghanistan next year, China mounting pressure from Kashmir, Arunachal, Nepal etc etc....
First PAK Terrorists would come in India & make the ground for PAK Politicians to come.
The admission of the Home Minister that there was a possibility of an Indian handler inside the country with regard to Mumbai terror attack 26/11 will give a shy of relief to the Pakistanis. I have watched many of the discussion on this in television, the Pakistani panelists have always claimed that without the insiders(Indian) help it would not have been possible to attack the interiors of Taj, Oberoi and CST. Now that will become true by the admission of HM. In order to keep pace with the economic progres, India should need to have a peaceful relationship with all its neighbours be it China, Srilanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Though I welcome the peace process, but we need to be very careful in taking forward. Meanwhile we need to put diplomatic pressure to dismantle terror outfit in POK.
i strongly hit out govt decision for bilatereal talk with pakistan. how indian govt can be so rackless initigate talk with pakistan without solving the terrorist issues . whether they have forgot mumbai's sacification or do not consider past for making fututre policies. all in all, upa govt have completely failed in their foreign policy specially with pakistan and china. govt should resigned immediately if they have any decency itself. even our opposition BJP and their allies also in sleep mode not taking strict action against govt policies. it my suggestion to all parties to take intake for youths and let them governing the nations for save the nation's pride.
Indians should watch the developments with great care. What is going to unfold is a role reversal. In the event India does not go in for composite dialogue with Pakistan, which the UPA government has been more than eager to begin. Pakistan is going to play real hard ball and may even refuse to come to the table. Unlike India Pakistan will not wilt under US pressure. The UPA government should take time out, and explain to the country, why did they stop the dialogue in the first place, and what has changed since then, has Pakistan dismantled the terror infrastructure that UPA said was the bare minimum for resumption of talks. This is not a suggestion or demand for an armed conflict or a call for waging war on Pakistan. Peace is the requirement timing is out of sync.
The authorities in Pakistan donot have any control over the radical elements in the their country."We cannot protect our own citizens" was the reply we got a few days back from a diplomat from Pakistan . So, What is the reason in discussing issues with the people who cannot do any thing
Indian politicians and officials are quite out of touch with the feelings of Indian citizens. Let them make no mistake - an average Indian does not want to have any unnecessary dealings with Pakistan or Pakistanis. This feeling is not on religious or hatred grounds, it is after watching Pakistanis insult mother India and Indians in every international forum - latest one to exclude India in Afghanistan related meeting held in Turkey. Indian tax payer money has been pouring in Afghanistan and we have not seen any word of gratitude from anyone, and we are kept out of related meetins. Pakistan continues its tirades against India, sending terrorists across borders, harbors criminals wanted in India on its soil, allows infiltration across the borders. Why India wants company of Pakistan when the whole world is treating it as the terrorist nation. It is a great shame our politicians want to sit with Pakistanis or begging for a meeting. It lacks any self respect.
Pak Govt says they can not control terrorists. Therefore there is no meaning of talking to Paki Govt. India should talk to terrorists directly or use its integence agencies to eliminate terror leaders straight away even if it needs to take help of international spy agencies.
100% correct. There is no meaning of having talks with Pakistani goverments. Instead it's better if we have direct talk with Terrorist :) because even Pakis cant have the capacity , daring above all interest to protect th100% correct. There is no meaning of having talks with Pakistani goverments. Instead it's better if we have direct talk with Terrorist :) because even Pakistani Govrement doesn't have the capacity , daring above all common interest to protect their own citizens. So nothing going to happen having serious talks with them. eir own citizens.
This UPA Goverment has no shame, no self respect, no pride and no policy. They contradict their own statements, draw new lines in sand every week, and project their stupidity on a daily basis. None of the Mumbai attackers have been convicted. What happened to "no talks" until "concrete action against Mumbai attackers?" Talk about selling their mothers. They are selling mother India!
It is very important for the country to become super power or share super power to propose and keep peace with all our neighbours. Congratulation. After peace work on helping poors.
I fail to understand what has change in groud reality that India is proposing high level negotiation with Pak? Why did we stop talking to each other in the first pleace then? Has Pak took "concrete" steps against Mumbai attackers and thier supporters in Pak? No. Then?