Trust deficit with Pakistan 'shrinking', says Krishna

Onboard Special Aircraft: Striking a positive note ahead of the Indo-Pak Prime Ministerial meeting, India has said that trust deficit with its neighbour was "shrinking" and there was a very positive atmosphere.

Talking to reporters on his way to Maldives to attend the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said he was very optimistic about the forward movement during the meeting as the "trust level has gone up between the two countries".

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani will meet in Maldives on Thursday ahead of the inauguration of the summit of SAARC nations and are expected to review the progress in bilateral ties.

Mr Krishna, who will also be part of the bilateral, said the "trust deficit with Pakistanis shrinking" and there was "a very positive atmosphere".

While the heads of governments of the eight SAARC nations - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - will hold summit talks here, all eyes are on the Singh-Gilani meeting that comes against the backdrop of positive developments, including Pakistan's decision on granting the MFN trade status to India.

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He also said that it was "necessary for Pakistan to work out a joint strategy with India in order to fight terror".

When asked specifically about the existence of terror training camps in Pakistan, the minister said Pakistan has to take action against them.

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