Terrorism to be focus of Indo-Pak FM talks: Krishna

Sagar Kulkarni
Onboard Special Aircraft, Jul 6 (PTI) Days after Pakistan
said it would raise the alleged human rights situation in
Jammu and Kashmir in upcoming Indo-Pak talks, India Tuesday
made it clear that law and order cannot be questioned in the
name of rights and that terrorism will be the focus of the
parleys.
"Throughout the country human rights are protected,
human rights are sacred to India and that has been ensured by
the judiciary," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told
reporters accompanying him on the way home from a tour of
Mauritius, Mozambique and Seychelles.
"If there are instances of human rights violations, there
are agencies within our own country which have been created to
ensure human rights protection. So, it can be looked into, but
law and order cannot be questioned in the name of human
rights," he said.
Krishna's remarks follow his Pakistani counterpart Shah
Mahmood Qureshi's statement that he would raise the issue of
alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir during
their talks on July 15.
During his meeting with Qureshi, Krishna is expected to
explore ways and means to reduce the trust deficit between the
two countries that has grown since the 26/11 terror attacks in
Mumbai.
"We would like to talk to Pakistan on a number of
concerns that we have. Of course, the primary concern would
continue to be terror which emanates from Pakistan," he said.
The minister said that he would continue to talk about
terror and seek an update on the trial of those accused
of carrying out the deadly attacks in Mumbai in 2008.
"So, I will continue to talk about terror, to talk about
Mumbai, find out at what stage is the trial of the accused in
the Mumbai attacks," he said.
Observing that the two countries have a "better
understanding" of each other's perceptions now, Krishna said
the April meeting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his
Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani in Thimphu had
created an atmosphere wherein India can discuss any issue with
Pakistan without any inhibitions.
He said the visit of Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to
Pakistan and the subsequent discussions Home Minister P
Chidambaram had with his counterpart Rehman Malik helped the
two countries have a "better understanding" of each other's
perceptions.
"After the Home Minister's visit and that of the
Foreign Secretary, we have a better understanding of each
other's perceptions," he said.
Krishna said Prime Minister Singh has "very rightly" put
it that the trust deficit, that seems to have mounted over a
period of time, needs to be bridged. (More) PTI