India proposes Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan

India has proposed Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan to discuss terrorism and any other issue that could lead to peace between the two neighbours.

Sources on Thursday said the offer of talks has been made to Pakistan and an official reply was awaited.

At the talks, India intends to raise the issue of terrorism and any other matter that could "contribute to creating atmosphere of peace and security" between the two countries.

India will "enter into the discussions with an open and positive mind" and will raise all "relevant issues," sources said. On the outcome of the proposed meeting, this should not be pre-judged.

India had suspended the composite dialogue after Mumbai terror attacks and refused to restart the process before it could see any concrete action being taken by Pakistan in punishing those behind the carnage.

The softening of India's stand came apparently after Pakistan produced evidence against arrested Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including its commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in a court in connection with the Mumbai attacks. The evidence was based on a series of dossiers provided to Pakistan by India in connection with the incident.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had said India would be satisfied if Pakistan takes "a few steps" with regard to investigations into the 26/11 carnage.

The offer for Foreign Secretary-level talks comes as Home Minister P Chidambaram prepares to travel to Pakistan on February 26 to attend the SAARC Interior Ministers' Conference, which will mark the first high-level visit from India since the November 2008 attacks.

During his visit, Chidambaram is likely to have a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik and some other leaders.

"Dates are being discussed for the meeting between the foreign secretaries," the sources said. 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 foreign secretaries are likely to meet after Home Minister Chidambaram's visit to Islamabad to attend the SAARC meet.

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.

Pakistan has welcomed the offer. “There are now signals emanating from India that they are willing to talk bilaterally,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Reuters on Thursday. “We welcome this...if it leads to resumption of the composite dialogue.”

The foreign ministry also confirmed Thursday that India had proposed foreign secretary-level talks with Islamabad but said it was seeking clarification of the content of the talks. “They have proposed foreign secretary level talks and we have sought clarification on the contents of the proposed talks. We are awaiting response from India,” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.

- Asian Tribune -