India’s position, now, is that Siachen is not a standalone issue. It is linked to terrorism and action against the seven individuals who were involved in the conspiracy to bomb Mumbai.
However, despite the declarations, the Sir Creek talks made little progress on Tuesday as they seemed to be eclipsed by the political situation in Pakistan, in light of the Prime Minister’s dismissal by the Supreme Court.
Sources in the India delegation further said that the talks made little headway because Pakistan changed their sequence. “If India had yielded some space on Siachen, Pakistan may have offered a breakthrough in Sir Creek. But that didn’t happen and in any case, there were other more urgent matters to address” said a top Indian official.
The talks today were cordial and civilized with the Indian delegation being led by surveyor general of India S Subba Rao and the Pakistani side led by Rear Admiral Farukh Ahmad, additional secretary in the ministry of defence. The Pakistan delegation also met Shekhar Agarwal, additional secretary in India's defence ministry.
“The two sides discussed the land boundary in the Sir Creek area and also delimitation of International Maritime Boundary between India and Pakistan,” said a joint statement after the talks.
“They reiterated their desire to find an amicable solution of the Sir Creek issue through sustained and result oriented dialogue,” said the statement.
Manmohan's Pakistan visit
India watched with concern, the internal events in Pakistan on Tuesday, especially as it will throw off kilter a number of initiatives in the works, including a visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan, responding to an invitation by not just President Asif Ali Zardari but also Prime Minister Gilani.
“There was a chemistry with Gilani. Now, we just don’t know” said the official.
Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna is to visit Pakistan between July 18 and 20. Owing to the election for the President of India on July 19, this trip will have to be rescheduled slightly, but a bigger concern is that the window for the Indian PM’s visit – who is currently on a pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib as well as to Gah, his ancestral village that he has not seen since Partition – might have got narrower.
Top officials said it was not a question of whether the PM would visit Pakistan but when. Now, this will have to be completed either in September or October, because of the internal dynamics of Pakistan politics.
COMMENTS (22)
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This has been proven that Indian leadership doesn't want to resolve all the burning and core issues most especially importantly Kashmir and Siachen issues thru peace talks and negotiations and only time and money have been wasting from a long time on the talk and fashion shows related to these two crucial and burning issues either New Delhi or Islamabad.Then why both countries are wasting precious time and money on the useless and non-result-oriented talk and fashion shows.Please stop it now and choose/select/adopt the other ways/options to resolve all the issues between India-Pakistan most especially importantly Kashmir and Siachen.
@Nazir Ahmed
India is not interested in others affairs. The only thing India is interested in is for Pakistan to mind its own business and stay away.
@Nazir Ahmed: We thank you from the bottom of our heart ... NOT
@kris:
Are the Indians showering flowers in Baluchistan and our tribal areas by funding and arming insurgencies in these areas? Pakistan is target of terrorism and will come out of it despite the Indian efforts. India should be grateful to Pakistan for helping it to remain united. India would have fragmented long time back if Pakistan had not helped by timely interventions in 1965,1971 and 1999. Enmity with Pakistan suits India to retain her unity. That makes the Indians intransigent in negotiations, blocking resolution of disputes.
@Dark Knight: Chill man, we are on the same side :)
@Chopper
There is NO Kashmir issue. Get over it.
LOC and AGPL resolves all boundary issues. So there is NO Siachen issue and there is NO Sir Creek issue.
The only issue is terrorism emnating from Pakistan.
@BlackJack: lolz...which world are you from?
@DB: "India is now buying into the flawed war on terror cowboy ideology. "
Can you please substantiate with any evidence of India's actions that support your conclusions? Having an interest in letting Afghans choose their own leaders insted of Pakistan installed proxies that serve as a terrorist hub is a legitimate security interest for India. It has no other interest in what the Pakistanis describe as 'the great game'.
@ Ajk : " what about India’s state sponsored terrorism against Kashmiri people, when are they going to move on to punish their army officers who were involved in Samjota Express massacre, when will they stop sending terrorist into Pakistan". R U in the same world as the rest: 1. Kashmir is a part of India - the Hurriyat leaders are free to voice their opinion,the people have voting rights and Article 370 etc". So what happened to Bugti again ? Oh damn forgot he was assasinated by the state for asking for an independant Balochistan. So the Question is which state is a state sponsor of terrorism again? 2. Samjhota Express is being investigated and all the culprits are in custody - and it did not happen in Pakistan so gimme a break. Now how many terrorists have the courts in Pakistan prosecuted in the last 10 yers - the answer is ZERO . Do some homework before U post your illogical comments. Thank you.
'Indian PM’s visit – who is currently on a pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib as well as to Gah, his ancestral village"
Is this fiction masquerading as reporting? Last I heard, Manmohan Singh was in Mexico this week. Could we please have some basic fact checking and proof reading before publication in a national daily?
C weather sea or river. ould anyone point out any international border which is on one shore or the other when there is a river or sea inbetween. It has been always equidistant between the two countries. So why does Pakistan want the eastern shore? wor a foothold for the next intrusion into India kike in Kargil.
India is now buying into the flawed war on terror cowboy ideology. Destined to fail just like it has for the US. I soon expect some other great one liners from Indian leaders - "we'll smoke 'em out", "either you're with us or against us", "axis of evil", "mission accomplished" etc.
@Jat: errr.....What??????
@Chopper: Kashmir is issue only for Pakistan. Why would India treat it's own territory as an issue.
India controls Saichen / Sir Creek and the Kashmir valley - Status Quo is fine with us - let Pakistan first control their own territory i.e FATA / Balochistan - first and then try and ask to settle disputes lol... or better stiill get a PM first ...lol
what about India's state sponsored terrorism against Kashmiri people, when are they going to move on to punish their army officers who were involved in Samjota Express massacre, when will they stop sending terrorist into Pakistan. Pakistan's list is larger than India's deamnd
India must show some what sensible n practical flexibility, terrorismfobia or tasbi needs to be seen in a realistic term. India itself has enough such groups, teams, not say State back apparatus which was, is n will remain there. So if India sincerely/seriously want to resolve important issues than its wise to accept there own mess as well. Resolve major issues would help both countries to prosper n enemies of both nations will be forced to think taking any wrong steps towards both of them. Devide n Rule theory/method both nations know n understand well, do some good for future generations n sit together with open heart n find mutually beneficial resolves. That's the Only way to Fly together.
I don't think we need to be pessimistic. Mr. Ahmed Mukhtar (if he becomes PM) is a plain-speaking and forthright individual who has made courageous comments on Indo-Pak realities in the past. Linking relationships between countries to chemistry between individuals in inherently dangerous and should be avoided.
@rikky, yes but Kashmir is the bigger issue.
One has to appreciate one thing - that is the utmost optimism Pakistanis have about their ability, capability, power and 'standing in the world'. No other people or nation can boast of this optimistic optimism.
@Chopper: lol Sir Creek is also under indian control.What are you talking about?
Sir Creek is the easiest of the India-Pakistan problems to resolve. But Pakistan wants to see some movement on Kashmir.