Thaw? India proposes foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan

NEW DELHI - Signalling a thaw in bilateral ties, India has sent a formal proposal to Pakistan for talks between the foreign secretaries of the two countries and stressed that it will carry on these discussions with “an open and positive mind”.

New Delhi has made it clear that the talks will focus primarily on counter-terrorism, but has indicated “that other issues that will contribute to creating an atmosphere of peace and stability between the two countries will also be raised,” well-placed sources said.

“Dates are being discussed for the meeting between the foreign secretaries,” the sources said. The response from Islamabad is awaited.

This will be the first meeting between Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir since they met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September last year.

The Indian side has stressed that it will hold “discussions with an open and positive mind,” and will not like to prejudge their outcome.

All relevant issues will be discussed, including counter-terrorism, the sources added.

The foreign secretaries are likely to meet after Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s expected visit to Islamabad to attend the Feb 26-28 meeting of home/interior ministers of the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

This will be the first visit by an Indian minister to Pakistan since 26/11 attacks that suspended the bilateral dialogue and brought ties to an all-time low.

The two sides had decided on limited foreign secretary-level interaction after talks in Sharm el-Sheikh last July to assess actions taken by Pakistan to punish terrorists linked to the Mumbai carnage and in addressing India’s concerns on cross-border terror.

A positive assessment by India after the talks between foreign secretaries could set the stage for the meeting between the foreign ministers and prime ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Thimphu April 28-29.

Chidambaram’s expected visit to Islamabad, along with the meeting between the foreign secretaries, are seen in Pakistan as clear signals by India to resume the composite dialogue.

India has, however, struck a cautious note and indicated that the resumption of dialogue will depend on Pakistan’s concrete actions against the masterminds and perpetrators of the 26/11 carnage.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Wednesday had indicated India’s willingness to resume dialogue with Pakistan, saying even a few steps by Islamabad in the Mumbai terror probe will “satisfy” it and will make it easier “to carry on normal business” with the neighbouring country.

India decided to rethink its stance on re-engaging Pakistan after reports of Pakistan’s recent actions in the Mumbai terror probe.

Pakistan recently indicated its willingness to accept Indian dossiers, including the confessional statement of Ajmal Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist caught alive during the 26/11 attack, as evidence to prosecute the planners of the carnage. Islamabad also accepted evidence relating to boats used to ferry the attackers from Karachi.