New Delhi:
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will consult the Prime Minister today on Pakistan's late Wednesday night's offer for Foreign-Minister-level talks to defuse tension along the Line of Control in Kashmir, sources have said. (Latest developments)
The sources said that India would find out through diplomatic channels what Pakistan wants to discuss and that though it favours engagement, talks might not happen at the ministerial level at all for now. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made clear to Pakistan that those who mutilated the bodies of Indian soldiers killed in Pakistani firing last week, beheading one of them, must be brought to book first. That, sources say, will remain India's focus.
The Union Cabinet meets today and is likely to also discuss Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar's offer.
Mrs Khar, who had earlier accused India of "war mongering", suggested talks with her Indian counterpart, Mr Khurshid. "Instead of issuing belligerent statements by the military and political leaders from across the border and ratcheting up tension, it is advisable for the two countries to discuss all concerns related to the LoC with a view to reinforcing respect for the ceasefire, may be at the level of the foreign ministers," Ms Khar said in a statement on Wednesday. (Read full statement)
"Rhetoric and ratcheting up of tensions is certainly counter-productive," she said, adding, "We have invested hugely in the dialogue process and have worked energetically to keep the dialogue process moving forward in a sustained and constructive manner. Pakistan has gone out of the way to build a constructive relationship with India," she said.
In New York on Tuesday, Ms Khar had said, "We see war-mongering...it is deeply disturbing to hear statements that are upping the ante, where one politician is competing with the other to give a more hostile statement." (Read)
She said this soon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there "cannot be business as usual" with Pakistan following the brutal killing of the two Indian soldiers, Lance Naik Hemraj Singh and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh along the LoC in Kashmir.
Pakistan's offer for talks came as India and Pakistan agreed to de-escalate the situation along LoC and the Director General of Military Operations of the two countries spoke to each other on a hotline and agreed on the need to reduce tension on the LoC. There has been no firing from across the border overnight or this morning so far.
Tension peaked last week after the two Indian soldiers were killed in firing by Pakistani troops and one of the bodies was decapitated. In the next few days, the Indian Army reported repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the 742-km LoC and said it had only retaliated. The Indian Army has also accused the Pakistan Army of crossing into Indian territory and planting landmines - it released photographs that show mines with markings of Pakistani ordnance factories. Pakistan has denied all of India's charges and has instead accused it of initiating aggression; it claims that three of its soldiers have been killed by Indian troops.
In the last week, India has deferred giving visa on arrival at Wagah for Pakistani nationals over 65 years of age. Nine hockey players who were signed up for the Hockey India League being played now, have been asked to return. and there is a big question mark on whether the women's cricket World Cup in India will be rescheduled or then played without a Pakistan team. Pakistan unilaterally stopped a bus service and trade across the border in the Poonch sector.
(with inputs from Agencies)
The sources said that India would find out through diplomatic channels what Pakistan wants to discuss and that though it favours engagement, talks might not happen at the ministerial level at all for now. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made clear to Pakistan that those who mutilated the bodies of Indian soldiers killed in Pakistani firing last week, beheading one of them, must be brought to book first. That, sources say, will remain India's focus.
The Union Cabinet meets today and is likely to also discuss Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar's offer.
Mrs Khar, who had earlier accused India of "war mongering", suggested talks with her Indian counterpart, Mr Khurshid. "Instead of issuing belligerent statements by the military and political leaders from across the border and ratcheting up tension, it is advisable for the two countries to discuss all concerns related to the LoC with a view to reinforcing respect for the ceasefire, may be at the level of the foreign ministers," Ms Khar said in a statement on Wednesday. (Read full statement)
"Rhetoric and ratcheting up of tensions is certainly counter-productive," she said, adding, "We have invested hugely in the dialogue process and have worked energetically to keep the dialogue process moving forward in a sustained and constructive manner. Pakistan has gone out of the way to build a constructive relationship with India," she said.
In New York on Tuesday, Ms Khar had said, "We see war-mongering...it is deeply disturbing to hear statements that are upping the ante, where one politician is competing with the other to give a more hostile statement." (Read)
She said this soon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there "cannot be business as usual" with Pakistan following the brutal killing of the two Indian soldiers, Lance Naik Hemraj Singh and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh along the LoC in Kashmir.
Pakistan's offer for talks came as India and Pakistan agreed to de-escalate the situation along LoC and the Director General of Military Operations of the two countries spoke to each other on a hotline and agreed on the need to reduce tension on the LoC. There has been no firing from across the border overnight or this morning so far.
Tension peaked last week after the two Indian soldiers were killed in firing by Pakistani troops and one of the bodies was decapitated. In the next few days, the Indian Army reported repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the 742-km LoC and said it had only retaliated. The Indian Army has also accused the Pakistan Army of crossing into Indian territory and planting landmines - it released photographs that show mines with markings of Pakistani ordnance factories. Pakistan has denied all of India's charges and has instead accused it of initiating aggression; it claims that three of its soldiers have been killed by Indian troops.
In the last week, India has deferred giving visa on arrival at Wagah for Pakistani nationals over 65 years of age. Nine hockey players who were signed up for the Hockey India League being played now, have been asked to return. and there is a big question mark on whether the women's cricket World Cup in India will be rescheduled or then played without a Pakistan team. Pakistan unilaterally stopped a bus service and trade across the border in the Poonch sector.
(with inputs from Agencies)
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