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Ahead of
talks, India and Pakistan in diplomatic row
India and Pakistan were locked in a diplomatic row Saturday, ahead
of talks between their foreign secretaries in Islamabad next week.
After Pakistan alleged that an Indian warship obstructed a
Pakistani naval ship escorting an
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New Delhi: India
Sunday said Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will go to Islamabad
with "an open and constructive approach" and with "realistic"
expectations, despite a naval row breaking out ahead of her
meeting with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir June 23-25.
"We are going to Islamabad for the foreign secretaries-level
meeting with an open and constructive approach to discuss all
issues of mutual interest and concern, and to build upon the
progress achieved in the past," government sources said here.
"Given the histories and complexities of India-Pakistan
relationship, we have realistic expectations," the sources said.
Nirupama Rao will be in Islamabad for discussions with Salman
Bashir on all outstanding issues including Kashmir, peace and
security and friendly exchanges between the two countries.
The meeting comes close on the heels of India and Pakistan trading
charges on reported "dangerous manoeuvres" carried out by the
other's warships in the Gulf of Aden threatening the safety of
their own warship.
Indian warship INS Godavari and Pakistani naval vessel PNS Babar
were in the Gulf of Aden to escort an Egyptian bulk carrier that
was released by Somali pirates on June 14 to Oman.
During the foreign secretary-level meeting, the two sides will
review all preceding meetings of various ministries. "This will
naturally cover all issues of mutual concern, especially the
continuing threat posed by terrorists," they said.
The sources said India was "satisfied" with the earlier talks that
began with the foreign secretaries meeting in Thimphu in February
this year.
Between February and May, meetings between their commerce
secretaries, Indian home secretary and Pakistan's interior
secretary, defence secretaries on demilitarisation of Siachen
glacier, apart from a meeting between Pakistan's additional
defence secretary and India's Surveyor General on Sir Creek
maritime borders, were held.
"Dialogue is a process. It is not an event in itself. We should
not expect quick and dramatic solutions to these complex and
longstanding issues. But go step-by-step by narrowing the trust
deficit with understanding, towards an eventual resolution of all
outstanding issues through dialogue," the sources said.
Regarding the court cases against Mumbai terror attack
perpetrators in a Pakistani court, the sources said the
proceedings were moving at a "glacial pace" with "low satisfactory
outcome", even as the judge was changed for the fourth time
recently.
"We have submitted all documents and complied with all requests
from Pakistan for documentary evidence. Our concerns on Mumbai
terror attacks are legitimate and we need satisfactory closure of
the case, so we can put this issue behind us," they said.
Sources said the recent revelations on involvement of Pakistan's
Inter-Services Intelligence in the Mumbai terror attacks "are part
of the larger conspiracy" and India's concerns included the
conspiracy that led to the "huge tragedy" on 26/11.
"We have not let our guard down on any of this," they said.
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