New Delhi
22 April 2010
India was waiting Thursday to hear from Pakistan whether it was desirous of a
possible meeting between their prime ministers on the margins of the 16th Saarc summit
to be held in Bhutan on April 28 and 29.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told a press conference here that "there has been no
request from Pakistan as of now."
She was responding to a question whether New Delhi had received any request from
Islamabad for a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his
Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani in Thimphu.
"I do not really want to forecast ... let's see how the situation develops," Ms Rao replied
when a journalist pressed her on about the likelihood of an interaction between Dr Singh
and Mr Gilani.
The foreign secretary maintained that the situation was not ripe for the resumption of the
composite dialogue, a demand Pakistan has been making since Ms Rao's talks with her
Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir here on February 25.
[In Islamabad, Mr Gilani said he hoped that the stalled dialogue with India would be
resumed soon. "While reciprocating the goodwill gesture of the Indian politicians, the
Prime Minister hoped (for the) early resumption of the bilateral dialogue between the two
countries," said a statement issued by Mr Gilani's office after Population Welfare
Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan called on him. Ms Awan visited India recently and met
several leaders, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Health Minister
Ghulam Nabi Azad.]
Ms Rao said the situation had not changed enough to inspire India to consider
resumption of the composite dialogue. She reminded Pakistan that it needed to take
action "in terms of movement of the [26/11] trials" there.
Infiltration remains a cause for concern for India as does the activities of terrorist groups
in Pakistan, she elaborated.
She also said Pakistan had not got back to India on the dossiers handed over to it at the
foreign secretary- level talks containing information against terrorists and terror groups
involved in anti-India activities, including Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed who
masterminded the Mumbai attacks.
However, the foreign secretary underscored the importance of dialogue as it helps to
"clear the atmosphere" between two close neighbours.
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said in the Rajya Sabha that
although the door for dialogue was never closed, it would depend on effective action
against terror.
"... meaningful dialogue with Pakistan is possible only in an environment free of terror or
threat of terror," Mr Krishna said.
No comments:
Post a Comment