Pakistan-India talks: Hina Rabbani Khar arrives in New Delhi
Khar and Krishna will meet in New Delhi to agree on confidence-building measures, such as relaxing trade and travel restrictions across the ceasefire line dividing disputed Kashmir but are unlikely to make any headway on the thorny territorial issue of Kashmir itself, or on fighting militancy.
(Read: Timeline - Pak-India talks in perspective)
"We have learned lessons from history but are not burdened by history. We can move forward as good, friendly neighbours who have a stake in each other's future and who understand the responsibility that both the countries have to the region and within the region," Khar told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Khar's first major meeting in Delhi was with senior Kashmiri leaders, including Syed Ali Gilani, a sign of how the disputed region occupies the prime position in ties between Pakistan and India.
(Read: Time to forget Kashmir)
Speaking to the media before her departure from Lahore airport, Khar said Pakistan looks forward to developing sustainable dialogue with India to sort out issues affecting both countries.
She said both countries have acted responsibly and shown commitment to talks during the past few months.
The foreign minister said Islamabad wants nothing to affect these talks and they should continue at every level.
Khar told reporters that the government has taken all the political leaders including Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazalur Rehman into confidence on talks with India.
She said involvement of Kashmiris is important for a durable solution of Kashmir.
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India Pakistan should end the hostilities and immediately start real-time confidence building measures. We should begin a path of trust, initially for atleast in trade & commerce at all costs. Although Pakistan has more to loose to the big brother but more than enough time is lost already to dwell on it any longer. India & Pakistan should bring out on the table then satisfy each others fears & demons. The two immensely talented & resourceful nations are wasting time for no good result in near future. If nothing is achieved soon in this regard our children will suffer. We must bring out our age-old & world known political & diplomatic skills to the fullest to solve this dilemma at once or we will be stuck in this wasting quagmire for next several hundred years only to work-on-it-later all over again from square-one.
@sundar:
Im sure you do realize that dawood still probably has a big enough say in Indian politics to make sure he remains unscathed.
A women minister .. young and somewhat good looking ... makes headlines in the news she meets separatists ... more talks on it for a few days .. and than the same old game set in.
I agree with @Bharatvarsha that the world has really moved on and sure become more mature. Pakistani establishment is still trying to hoard the public mindset with those old sticks. Please do something new this time. Until than a bigggggggg Yaaaaaaaawn.
@My Name is Khan: One Indian by changing his name is suggesting here what India wants to decide about fate of Kashmir.
Why can't India held plebecite in the disputed territory - Kashmir as per UN resolution and let Kashmiri people decide what they really want. I am sure Kashmiris want Independent state of Kashmir.
Neither Pakistan nor India can decide their fate - it is Kashmiris who have to fight and decide their survival right. Uprising is coming so be ready.
Regards
Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg - South Africa
@Rehan:
I think there’s no argument about which FM's country is better !
Lets decide to be and remain friends. That will ease the resolution of differences.
There are 2 sides to this talk. One side is a Status Quo power and the other is not. Add to this the fact that the one who likes Status Quo is growing fast, is more successful and the other is barely growing, unstable and has let this issue hold it back.
Now, the only way this issue can be resolved is when one side decides to shift the goalposts and compromise. Who can do this? Will the stable, growing, Status Quo power shift the Goalposts to satisfy a failing, corrupt, volatile state? Or, the weaker state should do it?
The answer is obvious. Yet, the egos of even a weaker State are not so weak. This issue will persist till the brain gets better of the ego in the weaker State.
Her meeting with hurriat leaders at Pakistan embassy truly undermines her mission. Most people feel that she is set up by the establishment as she can be easily dictated and manipulated by them.
Can't we just agree with the Indians to make the LOC the border and be done. Can we use that saved money to build schools and roads and provide ways for the poor to grow their earnings so they can rise out of poverty? Can we stop giving the Men in Khaki a blank cheque to ruin our country?
I think there's no argument about which FM is better looking.
@Babloo: Baboo gee think 24 years
Timetable for solution to Kashmir ? No problem. It can be resolved in 24 hours. Agree to Indian position.
The Core issue is also the Bore issue, World has moved on it has other serious issues to deal with like Debt crisis, Climate change, WTO talks where does Kashmir fits in??? No takers for Kashmir except Pakistan even Pakistani public is questioning the logic of supporting the Kashmir cause at the cost of Pakistan's survival.
Dialogue with India = Banging your head against a Wall.
Indian FM will say 'Pakistan should take action against Terrorists , Mumbai Attacks Bla bla bla' Of WHAT use are these dialogues ? When the core issue 'KASHMIR' is not solved ?
@Dr ,"Talking is necessary " and you agree with Khar that India must agree to timetable on Kashmir issue" .. Good We Indians have given you the Timetable which your leaders are not telling you .The timetable is July 27th 2111 for just kashmir issue.
@hmmm: Agreed. I mean she emerged as a leading politician in a country or society where people [men,i guess] don't even allow 'em to move out of the house, humiliate or beat them otherwise Brave indeed,
Yeah, so much hype! The talks in the midst of mistrust is not going to change anything significant overnight.But it is a good start. Few right actions by G O P like dealing with LeT and Dawood will go a long way in correcting historic wrongs. But will the khakis let it happen? Those who are harping on Kashmir please read editorial in Daily Times, http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20117\26\story26-7-2011pg3_1 Good luck to both FMs.
Meeting of K2 (Khar+Krishna) hopes to bring fruitful results. Frequent meeting such as this one will remove ambiguities between each other.
Advani said once you cannot change your neighbours - so talking is necessary. I agree with Ms. Khar that India must agree to timetable on Kashmir issue.
Regards
Dr. Saleem Siddiqi
Johannesburg - South Africa
Pakistan for the first time appointed a Lady Foreign Minister who is going to meet with her Indian counterpart Mr. S.M. Krishna.
If a female foreign minister from Pakistan and a male foreign minister from India cannot agree to build the confidence between the two countries then both the countries will also never be able to build the confidence in future as well.
Dialogue is a civilsied way of resolving the issues..lets not expect this one meeting will solve long pending issues on terrorsm, territory..etc.lets keep talking..open up doors windows. dont get perturbed by minor set backs and critics ...keep movng ahead..even one step forward can be significant...Its in India's interest to keep Pakistanis engaged dialogue so that they curb terror
@ijaz ahmad: What's your problem ? Why don't you support her ? Otherwise , If not Ms Khar , whom do you support during these hard time ? Think about it !
and.............. as always, nothing will happen..
JUI-F leader in confidence for talks- smart move. First blunder.
who knows what will happen to this young lady........, man, she is brave
Something constructive is expected. :)
Media should stop hyping the talks. Let there be talks, but let
s not bother about the outcome. If theres some Positive Outcome for both the countries, lets cheer. Otherwise, just live on. Lets go by the concept of "Let us not be friends, but at least let`s not be enemies".Both the countries have paid a heavy price in terms of Militancy, peace, development, infrastructure & education. Let
s spend on these rather than Arms. & media, by hyping up these talks, you are building pressure on the leaders wholl become more inflexible resulting in failure of talks. & Yes, I believe, the timing of speech by Hafeez Saeed (LeT) today is a ill omen & has been done by some vested interests aiming at Indo-Pak talks.I always felt that women make better diplomats than men. They are much more polished than men. Even if she does nothing, she would be way better than the obnoxious S.M.Qureshi. All he wanted to show was that he was macho enough for a fight. Good luck Hina !! You are already a winner in my book.
Seems it's Ms.Khar's week at ET, so much coverage on her. Considering her statements my prediction is 'old wine in new bottle'.
I Hope they reach on some kind of solution which will be acceptable to all three parties and could decrease the defence budgets of both counties and spend that money on well fare of common men.
baseless dialogue , I don't recommend Hina Rabbani Khar as foreign minister......
In India, Ms.Khar will be the centre of attraction, as against the agenda.