Terror, CBMs dominate 1st round of India-Pak talks

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Category: Political

Published on Friday, 24 June 2011 04:39

Written by Super User

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Islamabad, Jun 24(UNI) Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan
has held first round of talks as part of the resumed dialogue

process in a bid to narrow down their differences over the various

issues that have dogged their relationships, especially after the

Mumbai terror attacks.

Sources said yesterday's discussions covered issues relating to peace
and security and CBMs across the Line of Control in Kashmir.
The second and third round of talks on Jammu and Kashmir and
promotion of friendly exchanges will take place today.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on her arrival here earlier in the
day said she had come to Pakistan with "an open mind and a
constructive spirit in order to work towards building trust and
confidence".
Her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir said they were going to
talk with a "great sense of confidence, optimism and determination".
"We wish to engage with you in not only walking the trajectory,
but also exploring new avenues further," he said.
Mr Bashir said the meeting would help the two sides prepare the
agenda for the meeting of the two Foreign Ministers, expected next
month.
The talks assume added dimension as they were happening on a day
US President Barack Obama announced his initial withdrawal of
10,000 US troops from Afghanistan, a country battered by violence
and terror that has spilled out to Pakistan, posing serious security
risk to India.
India has already expressed its disappointment at the slow pace
of progress in the trial of Mumbai terror attack accused in Pakistan,
an issue that is understood to have been taken up by Ms Rao with Mr
Bashir.
Moreover, the revelations made by Lashkar operative and Mumbai
terror accused David Coleman Headley in a US court suggesting clear
link with Pakistan's ISI would also be taken up in the talks.
India's worry over Pakistan's nuclear weapons falling into the
hands of terrorists have multiplied after the terror attack on
Mehran naval base in Karachi last month.

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