India, Pakistan take contrasting stands on talks (Intro Roundup)

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD - India and Pakistan Thursday took contrasting positions on their proposed foreign secretary-level talks, with Islamabad also insisting on resumption of the composite dialogue New Delhi suspended the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

India said it had taken a “conscious decision” to hold talks with Pakistan even though it was “not fully satisfied” with the steps Islamabad has taken to dismantle the terror infrastructure on its soil.

Pakistan’s top leadership maintained that the resumption of the composite dialogue was the only way forward, with the foreign office saying any preconditions for the talks, which India has proposed be held either Feb 18 or Feb 25, were unacceptable.

India has consistently said it is premature to talk about resuming the dialogue at the present moment and has made it clear to Pakistan that the proposed foreign secretary-level talks are part of “a step-by-step incremental approach” and that Islamabad should “do more” to address New Delhi’s concerns over cross-border terror.

Speaking in New Delhi, Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony said: “We were watching the developments in Pakistan and felt we are not fully satisfied with the steps taken to control terrorism. At the same time, they have taken some action as per our wishes. Therefore, we took a conscious decision that it is better to start talks.”

Noting that India-Pakistan relations “have a huge bearing on regional peace and stability”, Antony said: “Our government’s willingness to resume negotiations with Pakistan must be seen in this backdrop. At the same time, we are also closely monitoring the developments in Pakistan.”

In Islamabad, the foreign office said preconditions for talks were unacceptable and hoped New Delhi would come to the negotiating table to solve all pending issues, including Kashmir.

“Pakistan would like the process of engagement leading to the resumption of the composite dialogue,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said at his weekly briefing.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari hoped for result oriented talks with India, saying the stalled composite dialogue should also resume.

“We want meaningful and result oriented talks. Kashmir and Kashmiris cannot be sidelined and no headway can be made by ignoring them,” Zardari told Pakistani High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik, Online news agency reported, quoting sources.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appreciated India’s “intention” to resume talks but also reiterated Pakistan’s stance on resumption of the composite dialogue.

“I appreciate India’s intention to resume talks,” he said, adding the “threat perception” regarding India necessitated the need for a dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries.

“There is an intention that we say that there will be no war. But intentions can change anytime. There is a threat perception, that’s why we want dialogue,” Gilani said in interview with a private TV channel telecast Wednesday night.

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad on Thursday, Gilani lamented that India is not ready for a dialogue on Kashmir and noted that Pakistan is waiting for its “final response” that resumption of talks should only mean having a “composite dialogue”.

“Kashmir dispute should come under discussion in the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India and we are still awaiting the final response of India in this regard,” he said on the sidelines of a function at the Capital Development Authority in Islamabad.

“Composite dialogue is the only way to resolve disputes between the two nuclear-armed nations,” Online news agency quoted Gilani as saying.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told The News: “We do not have too many concerns regarding dates. February 25 is not a bad date, that is if it also suits our foreign secretary, and as to where we meet, it is really not that important.”

“Of course, we feel that these talks should be the re-start of the composite dialogue and take it up from where we left off. After all, all the issues that both sides want to raise are included in the composite dialogue,” he added.