By IRNA,
New Delhi : The issue of terrorism will be at the centre of discussions in the proposed India-Pakistan foreign secretary level talks to be held later this month in Delhi.
India has proposed that talks to be held either on 18 or on 25th of this month and is awaiting their response, All India Radio (AIR) reported quoting official sources as said in New Delhi today.
The proposal was given by the Foreign Secretary, Mrs. Nirupama Rao to his Pakistani counterpart and later she held discussions with the Pakistani High Commissioner in India to share India’s perception on this issue.
The objective of the talks is to enhance the trust and confidence between the two countries. The sources also dismissed the reports that the dialogue is being started under any pressure.
New Delhi reiterated that any Mumbai-like terror attack will derail the dialogue process and effect the bilateral relationship. However, the sources said that the security apparatus has to be vigilant to deal with any situation. Sources said despite complex relations with Pakistan dialogue is the only way forward. India, however, maintains that Pakistan has to take all out steps to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai attack to justice.
The sources said that the Indus Water Treaty is the mechanism to address the water issues between the two countries and India’s Indus Water Commissioner is now in Pakistan to hold talks with his counterpart there. Sources, however, regretted that Pakistan is taking up some technical issues and giving them a political colour. The fact is that there is a dispute among various states in Pakistan on the water sharing and India’s stand on Baglihar project has been vindicated by the international community. However, the work on Tulbul and Kishan Ganga project has been put on halt unilaterally.
On the issue of China’s activities in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, sources said that India has conveyed its concerns to the two countries.
Meanwhile, Pakistan today said it is in the process of framing a response to India’s offer to resume talks. Talking to PTI, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit however indicated that his country would prefer to stick to the established composite dialogue process that was stalled in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has convened an inter-ministerial meeting in the Foreign Office next week to assess the Indian proposal and to finalise a strategy and agenda for the foreign secretary-level talks.