No consensus on agenda for Feb 25 Indo-Pak talks as yet - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna has categorically said terrorism will remain at the core of discussions, but added that Pakistan is free to take up any issue that it is concerned about. Islamabad, however, is seeking more clarity on Krishna's statement and is calling for the inclusion of the Kashmir and the water disputes in the talks. Government sources here, however, have explained that the talks cannot be described as a `monologue'. India's focus will remain on terrorism and Pakistan will raise issues of its concern, they said. Sources have told ANI that India is also likely to handover evidence of previous terror attacks allegedly emanating from Pakistani soil, including the recent attack on the German Bakery in Pune. Krishna's statement that next week's talks should not be seen as a resumption of the composite dialogue, has concerned Islamabad. Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan is viewing the resumption of talks as the first step to resumption of composite dialogue. Government sources here explain that the composite dialogue will not be just confined to foreign secretary-level talks, but will be and can be pursued at different levels. The composite dialogue process began shortly after the Islamabad SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit in 2004. It comprised of eight key components, including Jammu and Kashmir, confidence-building measures, defence, trade and water that have plagued bilateral relations for decades. Experts and commentators here believe that if no framework of dialogue is composed before the talks, it will be difficult to achieve anything. Others are viewing it as a good start to end the logjam in the stalled relationship.