INDOPAK-LD KRISHNA 2LST

Rejecting suggestions that the outcome of his talks was a
setback to the overall dialogue process, the Minister said the
visit was a confidence-building exercise and "to that extent,
we have succeeded".
Expressing his firm belief that India and Pakistan needed
to remain engaged, Krishna said there was no other
alternative.
Responding to a question on BJP's stand that India
should not talk to Pakistan now, the Minister said he had
briefed the BJP leaders before his visit to Islamabad and
conveyed the desirability of engaging Pakistan.
"There is no alternative. If somebody can come out with
an alternative, I can consider that."
The External Affairs Minister welcomed Qureshi's
assurance that Pakistan would act on the leads provided by
Headley and would hasten the trial of those involved in the
Mumbai attack. "I am glad about it. That is expected from that
government (of Pakistan)."
Responding to a question on the perception that the
first session of his talks with Qureshi had gone off well,
prompting Indian officials to promise some good news, Krishna
said he was not "very sure" of the outcome of the meeting till
the last minute.
Asked about his meeting with US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, Krishna said he had briefed her on what
transpired at his meeting with Qureshi. "She is happy that
India and Pakistan are talking."
On whether she had raised the issue of Kashmir, which
she has described as an impediment in Indo-Pak relations, the
Minister said "with me no specifics were mentioned."
However, the External Affairs Minister disagreed that
Kashmir was the only issue between the two countries. "Kashmir
is one of the questions which keeps India and Pakistan apart
but there are a number of other concerns such as terrorism,"
he said.
He also advocated a graduated approach in the bilateral
relations with Pakistan, saying India wanted to start with
issues which are "helpful and beneficial" to both countries
such as release of fishermen, people-to-people contact before
taking up complex issues like Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen and
Sir Creek.
Krishna said he had raised India's "immediate concern"
of terrorism during his meetings in Pakistan. "I would have
failed in my duty as External Affairs Minister if I would not
have put enough pressure on Pakistan to address itself to our
concerns about 26/11 and what happened after that."
"I wanted to know how the trial is proceeding. I wanted
to find out....I wanted them to hasten up the trial. All the
other things can come up later," he said. PTI PYK
MYR


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