By IANS,
New Delhi : Terrorism will be the “central point” of New Delhi’s agenda when Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries meet in Islamabad Thursday, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Monday.
He admitted at the same time that incidents like the alleged confrontation on the sea between a Pakistani and an Indian naval warship could become an irritant in the talks.
“Of course, terrorism is the central point of our interaction with Pakistan,” Krishna told reporters before leaving for Myanmar on a three-day visit.
“This menace has to be dealt with firmly and in a transparent manner for the common good of India and Pakistan and the region beyond,” he said.
But he underlined that “in the kind of talks we are going to be involved with, patience is something to be called for”.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will be in Islamabad June 23-25 for talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir.
They are expected to discuss many issues including their dragging dispute over Kashmir.
“We have to be patient, realistic and positive. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said on more than one occasion, peace and prosperity of South Asia is interlinked,” Krishna said.
“We owe it to ourselves and generations to follow, to do what it takes, to embark on the path of peace and development.”
The minister sounded unhappy over the recent brush between an Indian and a Pakistani warship in the Gulf of Aden.
Pakistan says that its PNS Babar was escorting to Oman an Egyptian carrier freed by Somali pirates June 14 when INS Godavari came dangerously close by.
The incident led Pakistan to protest — and India to deny the accusation.
“It is not desirable that such instances (take place)… On one hand, we are trying to improve relationship, on other hand, such solitary instance take place which become cause for irritant for the talks.
“If there is any misunderstanding between the two countries on this score, I think it is necessary to sort them out,” he said.