New Delhi, however, is not against some “measured contacts” with Islamabad and even indicated its willingness to discuss issues like release of Indian and Pakistani fishermen detained in each other countries and people-to-people contacts.
Sources said New Delhi expected Islamabad to do more to prove to the world its sincerity in addressing India’s concern over terrorism emanating from Pakistan. India is also concerned over the rise in infiltration bids by militants along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir even in the winter season and ceasefire violations by the border-guards of Pakistan.
India and Pakistan had started the composite dialogue in February 2004. But New Delhi had suspended the process in the wake the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Gilani on Thursday pushed for resumption of talks stating that 1.25 billion people of both the countries should not be made hostage to the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai and that Pakistan itself had been victim of 101 such attacks.
The Pakistani PM’s overtures, however, got a cold rebuff from New Delhi. “A lot of de-clogging needs to be done after the terror attacks in Mumbai. The atmosphere is not conducive (for resumption of Indo-Pak talks),” an official here said.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks