New Delhi
15 March 2010
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna says India will take one step at a time on
talks with Pakistan but he did not rule out another meeting of foreign secretaries in the
coming weeks.
He indicated that the next round of talks between Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and
her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir might take place in Islamabad.
"The foreign secretary of Pakistan came here for the talks. So, perhaps it is the turn of
Indian foreign secretary to go to Pakistan. So, let us move step by step," Mr Krishna said
here Monday on the margins of the India-Africa Conclave.
Pakistan media reports suggested the talks could take place as early as this month-end.
Bashir had come here on February 24 for talks with Ms Rao the following day, during
which the Indian side made it clear that Pakistan has to take effective and transparent
action to stop acts of terror emanating from its soil.
Mr Krishna also said "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken an initiative in good
faith to hold foreign secretary level talks with Islamabad" but he evaded a direct reply to
reporters' query about whether Dr Singh would meet his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf
Raza Gilani in Washington in April on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit.
"Keep speculating," is all Mr Krishna chose to say.
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