ID :
190694
Thu, 06/23/2011 - 13:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/190694
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Rao arrives in Islamabad for crucial Indo-Pak talks
Islamabad, Jun 23 (PTI) Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao
arrived here Thursday with an "open mind" for crucial talks
with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir on issues like
peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of
friendly exchanges.
"I have come to Pakistan with an open mind and a
constructive spirit in order to work towards building trust
and confidence in our relationship and thereby leading to an
eventual normalisation of relations for the well being and
prosperity of our two peoples," Rao said after her arrival
here.
She said "this is an important visit as it marks the
penultimate leg of the resumed dialogue process before the
visit of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan to India by July
2011" and added that they will discuss the issues that have
been mandated to them by their leadership.
Asked about the anti-India sentiments among the people of
Pakistan, Rao told the media travelling with her that best
opportunities were presented in most difficult situation.
During the two-day talks, nuclear and conventional
confidence-building measures will also be discussed.
Earlier this year, the two countries decided to resume
talks on all bilateral issues under the Composite Dialogue,
two years after the parleys were suspended in the wake of the
Mumbai terror attacks.
This time the talks would take place in three segments,
including one specially on Jammu and Kashmir.
Asked why there is a special session on Jammu and Kashmir
and not on terrorism which is a prime concern of India,
officials downplayed it, saying that it has always been a
practice to segment issues during the talks. "It is nothing
new," they said.
Following the resumption of talks in February, the
Defence, Interior and Commerce Secretaries have met in the
last few months while Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani visited India in March to watch the India-Pakistan
cricket World Cup semi-final at the invitation of his
counterpart Manmohan Singh.
The Foreign Secretaries will also take stock of the
progress made in the meetings between the Interior, Commerce
and Defence Secretaries. PTI PYK
KAP
arrived here Thursday with an "open mind" for crucial talks
with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir on issues like
peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of
friendly exchanges.
"I have come to Pakistan with an open mind and a
constructive spirit in order to work towards building trust
and confidence in our relationship and thereby leading to an
eventual normalisation of relations for the well being and
prosperity of our two peoples," Rao said after her arrival
here.
She said "this is an important visit as it marks the
penultimate leg of the resumed dialogue process before the
visit of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan to India by July
2011" and added that they will discuss the issues that have
been mandated to them by their leadership.
Asked about the anti-India sentiments among the people of
Pakistan, Rao told the media travelling with her that best
opportunities were presented in most difficult situation.
During the two-day talks, nuclear and conventional
confidence-building measures will also be discussed.
Earlier this year, the two countries decided to resume
talks on all bilateral issues under the Composite Dialogue,
two years after the parleys were suspended in the wake of the
Mumbai terror attacks.
This time the talks would take place in three segments,
including one specially on Jammu and Kashmir.
Asked why there is a special session on Jammu and Kashmir
and not on terrorism which is a prime concern of India,
officials downplayed it, saying that it has always been a
practice to segment issues during the talks. "It is nothing
new," they said.
Following the resumption of talks in February, the
Defence, Interior and Commerce Secretaries have met in the
last few months while Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani visited India in March to watch the India-Pakistan
cricket World Cup semi-final at the invitation of his
counterpart Manmohan Singh.
The Foreign Secretaries will also take stock of the
progress made in the meetings between the Interior, Commerce
and Defence Secretaries. PTI PYK
KAP
