India-Pakistan talks: Another stumbling block ahead
Foreign Office says Mumbai attacks will not be discussed.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and India appear to be heading towards a deadlock on the agenda for the forthcoming foreign secretaries’ talks that culminate the series of engagements between officials of the nuclear-armed neighbours under the recently revived peace process.
The Foreign Office on Thursday said the meeting between the two foreign secretaries later this month in Islamabad will focus on three issues: peace and security, Kashmir and friendly exchanges.
However, statements emanating from New Delhi indicate that India is not willing to discuss issues other than the progress on trying the suspects of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.
At her weekly news briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson clearly stated that the foreign secretaries meeting won’t be allowed to discuss the issue of Mumbai attacks.
“We have already had discussions under the Interior/Home Secretary rubric where all these issues have been discussed. Whenever India provides us fresh information, it is sent to the Ministry of Interior and it is examined by them,” was Tehmina Janjua’s reply when asked about the agenda of the forthcoming talks.
“The agenda of the talks will include the issues of peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and friendly exchanges,” she explained in a clear indication that the two sides hardened their position ahead of the crucial talks.
In the past India’s insistence on discussing terrorism-related issues has been one of the major reasons behind the failure of talks. Official sources say the deadlock is preventing the two sides to fix the dates for talks between the two countries’ top diplomats.
The peace process between the two countries was revived in April this year when Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani visited Mohali at the invitation of his Indian counterpart.
Since then the two sides have had talks on Sir Creek, Siachen, trade and commerce and on the Mumbai attacks investigations, but failed to break the ice on any of the problems.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2011.
Pakistan and India appear to be heading towards a deadlock on the agenda for the forthcoming foreign secretaries’ talks that culminate the series of engagements between officials of the nuclear-armed neighbours under the recently revived peace process.
The Foreign Office on Thursday said the meeting between the two foreign secretaries later this month in Islamabad will focus on three issues: peace and security, Kashmir and friendly exchanges.
However, statements emanating from New Delhi indicate that India is not willing to discuss issues other than the progress on trying the suspects of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.
At her weekly news briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson clearly stated that the foreign secretaries meeting won’t be allowed to discuss the issue of Mumbai attacks.
“We have already had discussions under the Interior/Home Secretary rubric where all these issues have been discussed. Whenever India provides us fresh information, it is sent to the Ministry of Interior and it is examined by them,” was Tehmina Janjua’s reply when asked about the agenda of the forthcoming talks.
“The agenda of the talks will include the issues of peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and friendly exchanges,” she explained in a clear indication that the two sides hardened their position ahead of the crucial talks.
In the past India’s insistence on discussing terrorism-related issues has been one of the major reasons behind the failure of talks. Official sources say the deadlock is preventing the two sides to fix the dates for talks between the two countries’ top diplomats.
The peace process between the two countries was revived in April this year when Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani visited Mohali at the invitation of his Indian counterpart.
Since then the two sides have had talks on Sir Creek, Siachen, trade and commerce and on the Mumbai attacks investigations, but failed to break the ice on any of the problems.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2011.