SM Krishna speaks to NDTV

S M Krishna - Barkha

So, what's the concrete progress that's been made at the NAM Summit and on its sidelines, we have with us now India's Foreign Minister S M Krishna...

NDTV: Mr. Krishna of course, a lot of the focus back home is on the India-Pakistan talks between the foreign secretaries. Can you bring us up to speed on your assessment and the government's assessment of how the talks have gone so far?

SM Krishna: I have said earlier that the ball is in Pakistan's court; the perpetrators of the attack on Mumbai have to be brought to justice. Pakistan must come out with the basic commitment to fight terror, not only within their country. I sympathise with them. The Taliban forces, which are at work in Pakistan and emanating from Pakistani soil, they are trying to wreck Pakistan from within.

But at the same time Pakistan must see that its soil is not used for attacks against India, and if that were to be the state of mind of Pakistan, then I do not see any obstacle in forging a lasting friendship with Pakistan and perhaps a resumption of whatever talks we had initiated which has come to be known as the composite dialogue.

NDTV: Do you think that might happen in Egypt this time? Are we seeing signs to resume something?

SM Krishna: I think there is less acrimony now as I see it. Even the statement made by Pakistan at the ministerial conference was a very mild one and perhaps it might be the harbinger of thawing of the relationship between the two countries, which is in mutual interests.

NDTV: And on the issue of Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan foreign secretary is saying that India should not hold talks on this single issue, but you know public opinion is following this case very closely back home. So, your thoughts on this?

SM Krishna: I agree with whatever the Pakistan foreign secretary has said. The formulation is that it is an internal matter of that country, if they feel and if they have taken a position, then we have to go along with that position.

NDTV: But he's said to be a perpetrator of the Mumbai attacks?

SM Krishna: Subject to the caveat that Pakistan did make an attempt to go at him and the courts have released him. Wisdom would have dictated that they took the matter to a higher court, but let us wait for the unfolding of events further.

NDTV: And finally sir, beyond Pakistan, there are lots of other interesting countries here, Iran for example. With so much turmoil back home, have you had a chance to meet with your Iranian counterpart?

SM Krishna: Well, I had a bilateral meeting with the foreign minister of Iran. Foreign minister of Iran was educated in Bangalore in India. So he has nostalgic memories of his association and he had stayed there for three long years.

NDTV: So, sir using the Bangalore connection, India has been quite ambivalent on the whole Iran issue. What is our view sir on the charges on the election?

SM Krishna: Well, we congratulated the Iranian foreign minister on the success they have registered in the recently held elections to Iran's parliament. We have wished them good and we would certainly like to improve our bilateral relationship with Iran.