New Delhi:
In an attempt to revive the dialogue process, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet in Thimphu in Bhutan today. Since the talks between the foreign ministers broke down in Islamabad last July, there has not been any forward movement.
The Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan, Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir, are saying they are going into the talks with open minds, in an attempt to reconcile differences.
"We are resuming our contact after interregnum of some time. We have a number of issues to be discussed. As we have always said that dialogue between India and Pakistan is necessary and a must if we are to satisfactorily resolve the outstanding issues between our two countries," said Nirupama Rao.
"We have a number of outstanding issues. So, we are going into this with an open mind and constructive attitude," she added.
However, on the eve of today's meet, both sides had exchanged words over the Samjhauta blast case.
Yesterday, Pakistan's foreign office said India's handling of the case showed that "it lacked courage to unearth the culpability of Hindu extremists and their links with some Indian Army personnel." (Read: India lacks courage to unearth role of Right-wing extremists, says Pakistan)
Calling these charges rubbish, New Delhi has rejected Pakistan's attempt to link the case to Mumbai. Speaking to NDTV, the foreign secretary said the probe details may be shared once the investigations are over.
NDTV: India had initially blamed Lashker-e-Toiba and Indian Mujahideen. Now we are looking at the notion of Hindutva terror. Is it now reasonable for Islamabad to ask us to share that information and should we not be saying, yes we will?
Nirupama Rao: Well, Home Minister Mr. Chidambaram had already answered that question a few days ago, and then when the investigations are over and then we are able to share with Pakistan, we will do that. It's not that we have closed the possibility of any discussion on the issue with Pakistan, let me see what my counterpart will have to say on that issue when I meet him in Thimphu, but the fact is that the investigations are ongoing.
Despite the irritants, including a reappearance of LeT boss Hafiz Saeed at rallies in Pakistan this week, Indian officials say they are cautiously optimistic about the outcome in Thimphu, though they don't expect dramatic breakthroughs.
Sources say India will once again propose a step-by-step dialogue to deal with less contentious issues first, like trade, culture, and Sir Creek. However, terror is still India's central focus.
Officials say these are exploratory talks to figure out a way to resume the dialogue, and dates for Pakistan's Foreign Minister Qureshi's visit are also expected to be worked out.
Pakistan says it too is going into these talks with an open mind, but as has been seen in the past, dialogue between the two countries often has last minute twists and turns.
The Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan, Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir, are saying they are going into the talks with open minds, in an attempt to reconcile differences.
"We are resuming our contact after interregnum of some time. We have a number of issues to be discussed. As we have always said that dialogue between India and Pakistan is necessary and a must if we are to satisfactorily resolve the outstanding issues between our two countries," said Nirupama Rao.
"We have a number of outstanding issues. So, we are going into this with an open mind and constructive attitude," she added.
However, on the eve of today's meet, both sides had exchanged words over the Samjhauta blast case.
Yesterday, Pakistan's foreign office said India's handling of the case showed that "it lacked courage to unearth the culpability of Hindu extremists and their links with some Indian Army personnel." (Read: India lacks courage to unearth role of Right-wing extremists, says Pakistan)
Calling these charges rubbish, New Delhi has rejected Pakistan's attempt to link the case to Mumbai. Speaking to NDTV, the foreign secretary said the probe details may be shared once the investigations are over.
NDTV: India had initially blamed Lashker-e-Toiba and Indian Mujahideen. Now we are looking at the notion of Hindutva terror. Is it now reasonable for Islamabad to ask us to share that information and should we not be saying, yes we will?
Nirupama Rao: Well, Home Minister Mr. Chidambaram had already answered that question a few days ago, and then when the investigations are over and then we are able to share with Pakistan, we will do that. It's not that we have closed the possibility of any discussion on the issue with Pakistan, let me see what my counterpart will have to say on that issue when I meet him in Thimphu, but the fact is that the investigations are ongoing.
Despite the irritants, including a reappearance of LeT boss Hafiz Saeed at rallies in Pakistan this week, Indian officials say they are cautiously optimistic about the outcome in Thimphu, though they don't expect dramatic breakthroughs.
Sources say India will once again propose a step-by-step dialogue to deal with less contentious issues first, like trade, culture, and Sir Creek. However, terror is still India's central focus.
Officials say these are exploratory talks to figure out a way to resume the dialogue, and dates for Pakistan's Foreign Minister Qureshi's visit are also expected to be worked out.
Pakistan says it too is going into these talks with an open mind, but as has been seen in the past, dialogue between the two countries often has last minute twists and turns.
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