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Khar, 34, the youngest and the first woman Foreign Minister of Pakistan, on her arrival here said she hoped India and Pakistan can “move forward” as good neighbours.
The two foreign secretaries had “very cordial and positive discussions”, an official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said after the parleys between
Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir, who also finalised the agenda for tomorrow's talks.
The spokesman said they reviewed the progress in talks between different ministries and organisations of the two countries in the preceding months.
The two officials will brief their respective ministers of their discussions ahead of the Krishna-Khar meeting, he said.
Rao and Bashir are understood to have finalised a slew of CBMs designed to expand cross-LoC travel and trade in Jammu and Kashmir apart from holding discussions on terror including progress in Pakistan in the probe into 2008 Mumbai attack and ISI's links with Kashmiri separatists.
India is also understood to have handed over to the Pakistani delegation the revised list of 'most wanted' fugitives which contains 48 names.
“ ...hope that these two countries have learnt lessons from history, but are not burdened by history and we can move forward as good, friendly neighbours who have stake in each other's future and both the countries understand their responsibilities to the region and within the region.”
Besides reviewing the progress made by India and Pakistan on various bilateral issues during the series of meetings, including security, commerce, water and Siachen, Krishna and Khar will also explore areas to expand the cooperation.
The ministers will also explore the possibility of upgrading the engagement in some areas such as commerce and security to the ministerial level, sources said.
Khar told reporters in Lahore before leaving for India that Pakistan is looking forward to a “pro-active, productive and result-oriented” engagement with India on all issues, including Kashmir on which “we should not be held hostage to history”.
She, however, said both countries have committed to an “uninterrupted and uninterruptible” peace process since they began their re-engagement earlier this year.
Ahead of the meeting, Bashir said, “I think we have every reason to be satisfied with our joint endeavours for the cause of peace and stability and for the good relations between our two countries.”
“We had a very good meeting in Islamabad last month and this in a sense has set the trend for the discussions today,” said Rao.
Bashir said he looked forward to a “productive meeting between the two ministers”.
Rao was accompanied Foreign Secretary-designate Ranjan Mathai, Y K Sinha, joint secretary in charge of Pakistan in MEA, Sharat Sabharwal, India's high commissioner to Pakistan and other senior officials.
Led by Bashir, the Pakistani delegation included Zehra Akbari, Director General, South Asia, in Pakistan's Foreign Office and Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik.
The cross-LoC CBMs likely to be announced include increasing the frequency of bus links between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, easing of permit regulations and increase in the number of trading days across the LoC.
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The two side peoples should allowed to interact with each other , by means of soft visa.It helps to undersand each other.
Whether Pak send their FMs or PMs their policy against India is the same, i.e., India is enemy no.1. How many PMs and presidents of Pak came to India? hv they changed their foreign policy? No, Never. I have been in saudi arabia for 29 years and majority of my years were spent with pakistanis workingin the same company. Never ever they consider us as their friend and never ever they trusted us. They tried they level best to fire Indians from every company they work with us, they did maximum harm to us than any national in Saudi Arabia. They are harming Indian then why India is cooperating with them? I think inviting them for cooperation or terror or J & K issue is a complete waste and a big loss to us. First try to get the most wanted terrorists, like hafiz sayeed or Dawood and 48 . If they hand them over then u can expect some cooperation and can move forward. trusting them dont make a fool of yourself. Pls pls pls dont put our lives and future in their hands. pls save us. SAJID
These talks are bound to fail because what Pakistan is asking for India can never give up KASHMIR. Since Jammu and Kashmir is an itegral part of India, no Indian govt. can ever part with it. Pakistan must understand this position once and for all. Yes they may be able to settle other disputes peacefully.
By replacing old manicans with a cute one on a storefront window, the storekeeper lures the customers without changing interior or store policy;it wants to fool the customers, in this case Indians. Pakistan's military rulers will not stop till they achieve their goal. She will last as long as she is dancing at their tune!!
We cannot keep fighting over kashmir but talk and resolved all issues and benefits I had never met my cousin who died 2 weeks back in Pakistan We are still continueing to loose on both side but if we keep working together hopefully we become good friends We can help pakistan get rid of Terrorism
We should take this meeting a positive at least we sit together and talk on core issues. Problems cannot be solved on mistrusting each other. In my view, borders should be softened in order to facilitate people to interact each other and open corridors for trade. We should let peace win over terrorism in all its forms whehter individual or state-owned.