Pakistan, India agree on roadmap for talks

New Delhi has linked resumption of dialogue with prosecution of Mumbai attack suspects by the Pakistani authorities.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India are expected to resume talks in the next few weeks to seek a resolution of disputes including Kashmir after the nuclear-armed neighbours finally agreed on a roadmap.

The accord was reached at the talks between the foreign secretaries, who met in Thimphu last Sunday on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) meeting.

The joint statement issued after the talks said the meetings were held in a constructive and positive atmosphere, but the statement did not say if the two countries had finally reached an understanding on resuming the process suspended after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.

A Foreign Office official confirmed that the agreement to restart the peace process had been struck in Thimphu after India agreed to discuss all issues including Kashmir.

“The dates for the talks will be worked out through diplomatic channels,” said an official on condition of anonymity. He said Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on his return will present a report about the Thimphu talks to the leadership.

Another official said that had there been no agreement, the foreign secretary could not have met Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna in Bhutan.

After the meeting, Krishna had dropped the strongest hint yet about resumption of dialogue when he said that ‘a solid foundation has been laid’ for engagement with Pakistan.

Foreign office sources said that the talks will cover subjects that were part of what was known as a composite
dialogue. It broadly covers eight subjects including Kashmir, peace and security, Siachen, Sir Creek, trade and cultural ties.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2011.