ID :
119443
Fri, 04/30/2010 - 03:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/119443
The shortlink copeid
India, Pak decide to resume dialogue at Ministers' level
Priyanka Tikoo and V Mohan Narayan
Thimphu, Apr 29 (PTI) Breaking the ice, India and
Pakistan Thursday decided to resume dialogue at the level of
Foreign Ministers soon as India's Prime Ministers Manmohan
Singh and his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani met here in their
first substantive engagement in less than a year.
During their meeting, Singh and Gilani decided that
the channels of dialogue between the two countries should be
kept open to restore "trust and confidence" in the bilateral
relationship.
This was their first meeting after their dialogue in
Sharm-el-Sheik in Egypt on July 16, 2009 following which a
major controversy had broken out in India on the contents of
the joint statement.
Terrorism and the "slow progress" of Pakistan's probe
into Mumbai attacks formed part of the agenda of the
discussions which were held at the 'Bhutan House' here on the
margins of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) Summit. The two leaders first met
accompanied by their delegations which was followed by a
one-on-one meeting and then again by delegations.
"The Prime Ministers held very good talks in a free
and frank manner. They agreed that cooperation between the two
countries is vital for the people of South Asia to realise
their destiny," India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told
reporters.
"Prime Minister expressed India's concern over the
slow progress of Mumbai trial in Pakistan to Prime Minister
Gilani," Rao said.
Singh told Gilani that India was willing to discuss
all issues of mutual concern through dialogue but the issue of
terrorism is holding back the progress, she said.
The Foreign Secretary also said it was decided by the
two Prime Ministers that foreign ministers and foreign
secretaries of the two countries should meet as soon as
possible to "restore trust and confidence" in the relations,
said Rao.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a
news conference that the meeting between the two leaders ended
on a positive note and he would be engaging with his Indian
counterpart S M Krishna at an appropriate time.
He also welcomed India's Home Minister P Chidambaram
to Islamabad on June 26 for the SAARC Home Minister's
conference.
Qureshi said the meeting has "changed the climate"
between the two countries.
Asked whether the Foreign Ministers-level talks
amounted to resumption of the Composite Dialogue process
between the two countries, Rao said she does not want to get
into details about the nomenclature of the talks.
To another question, she declined to go into details
of the issues that would constitute the talks, saying "all
concerns" would be discussed.
Rao said Gilani also assured Singh that Pakistan's
territory would be not be allowed to be used for terrorism
directed against India.
She said the two leaders agreed that the Foreign
Ministers would be charged with the responsibility of working
out the modalities of creating trust and confidence in the
relationship for a substantive dialogue "in which all matters
of concern" would be discussed.
After their Sharm-el-Seikh meeting, Singh and Gilani
had met a couple of times in Washington but it was just for
handshake.
The Joint Statement after the Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting
had created a storm in India with the opposition attacking the
government as it appeared to delink resumption of dialogue and
Pakistan's action against terrorism, especially those involved
in the Mumbai attacks.
It had also made a reference to Balochistan, where
Pakistan alleges India is fomenting trouble.
Asked whether Balochistan was discussed during
Thursday's meeting, she said it was not raised.
"To the best of my knowledge, the issue was not
raised. But we hope that Pakistan is well aware that India
does not interfere in the internal affairs of either
countries," she said.
Rao said there was no evidence to suggest India's
involvement in Balochistan.
The Foreign Secretary said the Prime Minister told
Gilani that Pakistan has to control and eliminate the "terror
machine" that operates from its soil.
She said the two leaders felt that for progress in
normalisation of relations dialogue was the only way forward
in the interest of the people of two countries and the region.
Asked about the dates for the meeting, Rao said the
two sides have not agreed on the schedule for the talks, but
the instructions of the two Prime Ministers are that the
Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries should meet as soon
as possible.
To a question why the two sides did not hold a joint
press conference, Qureshi said "I don't think either side was
expecting such a positive turn today. But I can assure you
very soon I can provide a joint interaction."
"It was a very positive meeting. A step in the right
direction," Qureshi said.
Qureshi said the two prime ministers had acknowledged
the "trust deficit" between the two countries. PTI ETB
MRD
Thimphu, Apr 29 (PTI) Breaking the ice, India and
Pakistan Thursday decided to resume dialogue at the level of
Foreign Ministers soon as India's Prime Ministers Manmohan
Singh and his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani met here in their
first substantive engagement in less than a year.
During their meeting, Singh and Gilani decided that
the channels of dialogue between the two countries should be
kept open to restore "trust and confidence" in the bilateral
relationship.
This was their first meeting after their dialogue in
Sharm-el-Sheik in Egypt on July 16, 2009 following which a
major controversy had broken out in India on the contents of
the joint statement.
Terrorism and the "slow progress" of Pakistan's probe
into Mumbai attacks formed part of the agenda of the
discussions which were held at the 'Bhutan House' here on the
margins of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) Summit. The two leaders first met
accompanied by their delegations which was followed by a
one-on-one meeting and then again by delegations.
"The Prime Ministers held very good talks in a free
and frank manner. They agreed that cooperation between the two
countries is vital for the people of South Asia to realise
their destiny," India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told
reporters.
"Prime Minister expressed India's concern over the
slow progress of Mumbai trial in Pakistan to Prime Minister
Gilani," Rao said.
Singh told Gilani that India was willing to discuss
all issues of mutual concern through dialogue but the issue of
terrorism is holding back the progress, she said.
The Foreign Secretary also said it was decided by the
two Prime Ministers that foreign ministers and foreign
secretaries of the two countries should meet as soon as
possible to "restore trust and confidence" in the relations,
said Rao.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a
news conference that the meeting between the two leaders ended
on a positive note and he would be engaging with his Indian
counterpart S M Krishna at an appropriate time.
He also welcomed India's Home Minister P Chidambaram
to Islamabad on June 26 for the SAARC Home Minister's
conference.
Qureshi said the meeting has "changed the climate"
between the two countries.
Asked whether the Foreign Ministers-level talks
amounted to resumption of the Composite Dialogue process
between the two countries, Rao said she does not want to get
into details about the nomenclature of the talks.
To another question, she declined to go into details
of the issues that would constitute the talks, saying "all
concerns" would be discussed.
Rao said Gilani also assured Singh that Pakistan's
territory would be not be allowed to be used for terrorism
directed against India.
She said the two leaders agreed that the Foreign
Ministers would be charged with the responsibility of working
out the modalities of creating trust and confidence in the
relationship for a substantive dialogue "in which all matters
of concern" would be discussed.
After their Sharm-el-Seikh meeting, Singh and Gilani
had met a couple of times in Washington but it was just for
handshake.
The Joint Statement after the Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting
had created a storm in India with the opposition attacking the
government as it appeared to delink resumption of dialogue and
Pakistan's action against terrorism, especially those involved
in the Mumbai attacks.
It had also made a reference to Balochistan, where
Pakistan alleges India is fomenting trouble.
Asked whether Balochistan was discussed during
Thursday's meeting, she said it was not raised.
"To the best of my knowledge, the issue was not
raised. But we hope that Pakistan is well aware that India
does not interfere in the internal affairs of either
countries," she said.
Rao said there was no evidence to suggest India's
involvement in Balochistan.
The Foreign Secretary said the Prime Minister told
Gilani that Pakistan has to control and eliminate the "terror
machine" that operates from its soil.
She said the two leaders felt that for progress in
normalisation of relations dialogue was the only way forward
in the interest of the people of two countries and the region.
Asked about the dates for the meeting, Rao said the
two sides have not agreed on the schedule for the talks, but
the instructions of the two Prime Ministers are that the
Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries should meet as soon
as possible.
To a question why the two sides did not hold a joint
press conference, Qureshi said "I don't think either side was
expecting such a positive turn today. But I can assure you
very soon I can provide a joint interaction."
"It was a very positive meeting. A step in the right
direction," Qureshi said.
Qureshi said the two prime ministers had acknowledged
the "trust deficit" between the two countries. PTI ETB
MRD
