India and Pakistan have agreed to adopt a forward-looking approach in normalising their ties with Pakistan reiterating its commitment to speedily bring perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attack to justice. Both External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar emphasised the need for the two countries to look for the future and not be held hostage by the past.
At a joint press conference with Khar, after the two countries signed a liberalised visa agreement, Krishna said both sides had agreed that terrorism posed a continuing threat to peace and reaffirmed their commitment to fight the menace effectively.
Talking to Indian media accompanying the Minister, Mr. Krishna said, there is no question of bypassing the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks issue. He was responding to a question regarding the two countries not being hostage to the past in terms of dialogue process with Pakistan. He made it clear that for India, Mumbai issue is very much on the table.
Describing his talks with Khar as cordial, frank and positive, Krishna said the foreign secretaries will hold talks on all eight segments of the resumed dialogue process before the two foreign ministers meet in New Delhi next year.
Mr. Krishna said the changed atmosphere in Pakistan augurs well for both countries, and asked both sides to keep their sights on the future.
The External Affairs Minister termed Pakistan's move to release all Indian fishermen as a wonderful gesture and hoped that their boats and trawlers will be returned at the earliest. In reply to a question, he said, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh never put conditions to visit Pakistan.
The visit will take place when the atmosphere is congenial for it. On Sircreek and Siachen the Minister said the long standing issues can not be resolved in a few hours.
Khar said the two sides will build on convergences and will not brood on divergences. She said both must not be held hostage by history. They should learn from missed opportunities and must commit not to lose further opportunities.
Khar cited Pakistan's move to normalise trade ties with India as a strong message of its intentions to forge ahead towards an improved relationship. She said they are looking at India with a completely different mindset.
India and Pakistan took a major step forward yesterday to strengthen bilateral ties by signing the much-awaited new liberalised visa agreement to boost people-to-people contacts.
The agreement was signed by External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna and Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik in Islamabad last evening after Krishna's talks with his Pak counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar.
The two sides signed an MOU in the field of culture between Indian Council of Cultural Relations and Pakistan National Council of Arts.
The Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry have welcomed the new liberalised VISA regime between Indian and Pakistan.
In their crucial talks earlier, S M Krishna and Hina Rabbani Khar reviewed the second round of resumed dialogue with issues like terrorism on top of the agenda.
The highlights of the new visa regime include exemption from Police reporting, longer stay and visa on arrival for senior citizens, 30 day specific time limit for issuing visa and introduction of pilgrim and business visas. No police reporting will be required for those above sixty-five years of age, children below twelve years of age and Eminent Businessmen.
S M Krishna will visit Lahore today as he wrapped up his two day visit to Islamabad. He will hold separate meetings with Punjab Governor Latif Khosa and Chief Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Shairif. Mr Krishna will return home this evening.
