Ahead of the talks between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan, New Delhi today said that they are going into the talks with cautious optimism and reasonable expectations. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir will meet tomorrow on the sidelines of the SAARC meet at Thimphu, Bhutan. Sources said that that they will attempt to unlock the process and explore new ways to move forward step step by step in a forwad looking manner. Refusing to comment on the latest statement by the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman today, sources said that they do not want to say anything that will vitiate the atmosphere and expressed the hope that Pakistan will approach the talks in the same spirit.Admitting that one meeting cannot lead to solutions, they said it will help pave the way for solutions to them. Stressing that there are no good or bad times for talks , sources said that Thimpu talks will provide yet another opportunity to engage in a dialogue. They also said that India is willing to discuss all issues, though it cannot be bound by any time lines. In rersponse to a question on Pakistan raising the Samjhauta blast investigations, sources pointed out that there is no comparisons in terms of the gravity and scale and those involved in the Mumbai terror attack were from Pakistan.They also said that India will raise the issue of the slow pace at which the trial against those involved in the Mumbai terror attack is going on in Pakistan . They pointed out that the investigations into Samjhauta are still going on.
News On AIR | February 5, 2011 9:02 PM
Indo-Pak talks on sidelines of Thimpu SAARC meet