Terrorism part of dialogue, India tells Pak

Islamabad had stated that the issue was not on talks agenda

Revealing India’s stand on the issue, a Ministry of External Affairs statement said: “During the forthcoming meeting  of the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan, peace and security, including CBMs (confidence building measures); Jammu and Kashmir, and promotion of friendly exchanges would be discussed.

“In addition, they are expected to review the progress in the recent rounds of bilateral talks between various ministries of both the countries. This would naturally cover all issues of mutual concern, including the continuing threat posed by terrorism.”

Islamabad’s stand

On Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua had stated that terrorism would not be part of the agenda for the meeting “which would focus on Jammu and Kashmir, peace and security, and promotion of friendly exchanges”.

India was taken aback by the exclusion of terrorism – crucial to any India-Pak talks, especially after the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai and New Delhi ensured it featured in the agenda, sources said..

Janjua had said that matters relating to terrorism had been discussed at the Home/Interior Secretary-level engagement in Thimpu in February 2011  and “whatever New Delhi provided as fresh evidence or new information was sent to the Interior Ministry where it was examined on the basis of ground realities”.

The Pakistan Foreign Office maintained on Thursday that the dialogue process was on course and that Pakistan was in a “serious, substantive engagement mode” with Indian government.

Speaking to a group of visiting journalists from Pakistan last week, Rao said New Delhi’s call to Islamabad to do more to bring to justice the plotters and perpetrators of the November 26, 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai was not an “unrealistic” demand.

“We want Pakistan to do more to bring the culprits of the Mumbai attacks to justice. Let me tell you, we are not asking for the moon. We are not asking for unrealistic things. We are asking for justice,” she added.