India-Pak talks the only principled way forward: Bashir - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Friday said India and Pakistan should begin the composite dialogue only if it is based on equality, sovereignty and mutual respect. Addressing the media, Bashir said Pakistan was not desperate for talks, but emphasized that it was the only principled way forward. Bashir crossed over from the Wagah border on Friday afternoon following talks with Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna in New Delhi. Bashir refused to comment on whether there was any external pressure to hold talks with India and said that no date for the next round of talks had been decided, The Dawn reports. He maintained that the talks were only of an exploratory nature and that issues of Kashmir, Sir Creek, Water, Siachen and accidental border crossing were also discussed. Bashir criticized India for being more concerned about terrorism than any other issue.