Talks cannot be linked to one issue: Salman Bashir

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said that the stakes were too high for the talks to be linked to a single issue.

NDTV: We know you had a 90-minute meeting with Shiv Shankar Menon. How would you describe these conversations? I am calling it conversation because it wasn't a formal dialogue process.

Salman Bashir: I've always had a good engagement with my friend Mr Shiv Shankar Menon. I have great respect for him. We were able to convey the process to basically see if we can reach a common ground. So I think we covered a lot many areas. Essentially, I think there were two purposes - one was to take stock of where we were at this point and secondly to prepare for the prime ministers' meeting.

NDTV: In India there's been a lot of concern about the trial of Hafiz Saeed and there are all kinds of conflicting reports going on about whether he'll be arrested or not given what the observation of the court has been so far. So what about the Hafiz Saeed issue?

Salman Bashir: This was also touched upon and I think it's important to understand that what we are trying to do here is to see how we can go beyond certain very specific things. The stakes here are too high just to link them to one or the other issue. I think we are very clear on a lot of matters; we understand the Indian position that is centred on the issue of Mumbai and post Mumbai. We want to get past that.

NDTV: But do you believe that Hafiz Saeed should be arrested?

Salman Bashir: This is something I don't think anyone can really comment on because this still is a matter which is present to the courts, and courts proceed on the basis of their framework of laws. So I'd rather not comment on this specifically but I think it will be a mistake to diminish the importance of India-Pakistan engagement especially at the leadership level and to a specific point.

NDTV: India has been talking about a terrorism-only agenda to begin with. Is that something that Pakistan would be agreeable to?

Salman Bashir: Of course, terrorism is an issue of primary concern to Pakistan and we have no hesitation, in fact we welcome an engagement on terrorism. This has happened in the past and I've said it before and I've said it today, this is not to fight the issue, we need to have pragmatic engagement. Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism and we are doing quite a lot, of course we do it in our own national interest and in the interest of the whole region. This is a global issue and a regional issue and affects Pakistan as well. So I think there's no hesitation on our part.

NDTV: We've been hearing about several Pakistani leaders talking about the Samjhauta Express blasts. Is that something that came up specifically in the talks with Shiv Shankar Menon? Is there something that Pakistan is seeking from India in terms of a dossier on the Samjhauta Express?

Salman Bashir: There's so much that has happened in the past and Pakistan has been forthcoming. We have periodically given updates on the inquiry and the investigations on Mumbai and I can say this and this is not with reference to our conversation today that we have done a good professional job. Investigating agencies have picked up clues, they have made progress and we have shared that information as far as Mumbai is concerned but we've got to look beyond all this. I understand that this matter is also under the legal process in India and so is it in Pakistan and legal processes have their own dimensions, their own special requirements. We have to be mindful of those requirements. We don't want to prejudice anything, which will hurt or be damaging to our own efforts to get to the bottom of it and the perpetrators to justice.

NDTV: Are you expecting to see a joint media appearance by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Gilani?

Salman Bashir: I think this would probably be unavoidable.

NDTV: Probably unavoidable?

Salman Bashir: Because there's such a great interest on the part of the media and I am very grateful for that. Thank you for your own effort too.