PAK-INDIA 2LST

Prior to the meeting between Rao and Bashir, officials
and leaders of India and Pakistan have only held talks on the
sidelines of international gatherings.
"Foreign Secretary Rao's visit to Islamabad is a sign
of the judgement and patience demonstrated by the current
generation of Indian leaders, especially Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh," said leading columnist Mosharraf Zaidi.
"Singh has been a strategic voice for a functional
relationship with Pakistan serving as a cornerstone for India
and this is a good sign," he said.
At the same time, Zaidi cautioned that it was unlikely
Pakistani authorities would take "more significant action"
against groups like the JuD in the immediate future.
"This is a long-term problem and will take a long time
to resolve. We won't see an army operation (in Punjab) but
what we will see is ownership of intelligence and law
enforcement operations. The cost of terrorism has been high
for Punjab province," Zaidi told PTI.
He noted that the Punjab government "does find a way
when it has the will", like it did in the 1990s when it
cracked down on sectarian groups like the Sipah-e-Sahaba.
"So there is reason to be optimistic," he said.
Bashir will host an informal dinner for Rao following
her arrival in Islamabad on a special flight this evening.
Official sources said the interaction between the two
Foreign Secretaries at this dinner is expected to set the tone
and tenor for Thursday’s talks.
Besides the Foreign Secretary-level talks, Rao will
call on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign
Office at 2 pm on Thursday.
The Indian High Commisisoner will host an official
dinner for Rao at the mission on Thursday night.
Rao is scheduled to leave for Canada on June 25, hours
before another Indian delegation led by Home Minister P
Chidambaram arrives in Islamabad to participate in a meeting
of SAARC Interior Ministers.
Chidambaram will also hold talks with his Pakistani
counterpart Rehman Malik on the sideline of the SAARC meeting.
PTI