Dialogue with Pakistan only in terror-free environment: India
By IANSThursday, July 29, 2010
NEW DELHI - India Thursday reasserted that a “meaningful dialogue” with Pakistan is only possible in an environment “free of terror or threat of terror”, two weeks after their talks collapsed publicly.
“Government has consistently stated that the door for dialogue with Pakistan has never been closed and meaningful dialogue with Pakistan is possible only in an environment free of terror or threat of terror,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha here.
A question was asked by Rajya Sabha member Mani Shankar Aiyar whether the government is considering the possibility of restructuring the India-Pakistan dialogue.
On July 15, Krishna had met with Pakistan Foreign Minister S.M. Qureshi, but after the meeting, the Pakistani minister made public criticism of India’s attitude to talks over Indian Home Secretary G.K. Pillai’s linking the Mumbai attacks to Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter Services Intelligence.
India suspended the composite dialogue after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, accusing elements in Pakistan of planning and executing the entire operation. “The composite dialogue, resumed in 2004, was predicated on Pakistan’s solemn assurance to allow territory under its control for terrorism against India,” said Krishna.
