By IANS,
New Delhi : India Wednesday said it has candidly expressed its “concern” over Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s meeting with the separatist Hurriyat leadership from Kashmir Tuesday ahead of her meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, during a joint press conference with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir, said the two countries had “divergence” of views on several issues and this had been highlighted by Khar’s meeting with the Hurriyat Tuesday.
“There are divergences. It has been highlighted from yesterday’s meeting. We have expressed concerns in a frank and candid manner to Pakistan,” Rao said when asked if Khar’s meeting with Hurriyat leaders had cast a shadow on the bilateral talks between the two foreign ministers.
Asked if the Hurriyat meeting was an attempt to establish “parallel” structures in the bilateral relationship, Rao said as far as India was concerned there was only a “bilateral structure” between the two governments to address all issues.
“Jammu and Kashmir is very much part of that structure. In the joint statement issued today, it is mentioned that the two ministers have discussed Kashmir and agreed to the need for further discussions in a positive and forward looking manner,” she added.