By Jaideep Sarin, IANS,
Islamabad : Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Friday arrived here on a three-day visit that will see him hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar amid New Delhi’s concerns on threats of terror emanating from various quarters in Pakistan.
India has made it clear that terrorism, and particularly the 26/11 attack, would remain a “core issue” as both sides review the second round of the dialogue process, revived in February 2011 after a long hiatus following the Nov 26-28, 2008, terror siege of Mumbai.
While the foreign secretaries – India’s Ranjan Mathai and Pakistan’s Jalil Abbas Jilani – will meet Friday, Krishna will hold talks with Khar Saturday in an effort to take forward the process of fence mending between the two wary neighbours.
Both ministers will also co-chair the plenary of the India-Pakistan Joint Commission Saturday.
Krishna, who was last in Pakistan in July 2011, spends some time in Lahore Sunday on the way back. He will meet political, business and civil society leaders before heading back home.
Other issues likely to figure in the talks are confidence building measures (CBMs), release of prisoners as well as trade and border issues.
Over 60 Indian mediapersons are accompanying the Indian external affairs minister.