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Delhi wants Pak talks on 18th or 25th, but resumption of dialogue not likely soon | Foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, which are expected to take place here, will not lead to a resumption of the bilateral composite dialogue.
According to sources, terrorism will remain the focus of the proposed talks. Other
issues related to maritime security, consular services and confidence building
may also be discussed during the proposed meeting in Delhi . India has proposed
two dates for the talks. Sources said New Delhi wants the dialogue to
take place on either 18th February or 25th February. Pakistan is yet to revert
back on these proposed dates. Islamabad has been pressing for a resumption of
the composite dialogue that was suspended immediately after the 26/11 terror attack
on Mumbai. India , however, is keen on moving step by step towards what it refers
to as an eventual meaningful dialogue. The last and fifth round of the composite
dialogue was held in July 2008. I India has consistently been urging Pakistan
to take concrete steps to bring the plotters and perpetrators of 26/11 to book
and to dismantle the terror infrastructure on its soil. Sources here believe India
has exerted enough pressure on Pakistan , driving home the point that Pakistan
is a fountainhead of terrorism. India is of the view that its stand of not engaging
with Pakistan on a regular basis post-26/11 has been vindicated. Islamabad , New
Delhi feels is on the backfoot and needs to show conclusively that it is serious
about acting against terror elements operating from its soil. Indian Foreign Secretary
Nirupama Rao had proposed a dialogue with her Pakistani counterpart Salman
Bashir
over phone. Sources say India wants to open the dialogue process with Pakistan
because it believes Islamabad has taken some positive steps in the recent past
on the criminal investigation of culprits behind 26/11. New Delhi , however, remains
concerned about the increased ceasefire violations, the presence of the terror
infrastructure in Pakistan and its nexus with the Pakistani establishment. India
is insisting that the 26/11 criminal investigation has to be transparent for considering
a resumption of the composite dialogue. This includes incarceration of
Jamaat-ud-Dawa
and Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed. New Delhi wants to keep channels of communication
with Islamabad open and, according to sources, the opposition and smaller
constituents
of the UPA are onboard about this. Sources have said India is also ready to discuss
Balochistan while reiterating that it has had no role in the region and that Pakistan
's perceptions on this are misplaced. |
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