Certain elements in Pak do not want normalcy in ties: Khurshid

Notwithstanding the infiltration bid along the LoC, India has to show some patience and not play into the hands of certain elements in Pakistan wanting to stall the peace process, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said.

"I think much as we feel upset and concerned and hurt by what is happening on the border and the LoC, I think we have to show some perseverance, some patience and some fortitude to ensure that we don't play into the hands of the forces that want to create trouble," he told PTI.

He was responding to a question while returning from Sri Lanka on the fate of the Indo-Pak dialogue process in the wake of infiltration attempt by 35 to 40 terrorists backed by suspected Pakistani special forces in the Keran sector along the Line of Control in Kashmir.

Asked whether the Nawaz Sharif government can be trusted in view of repeated ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts, Khurshid made it clear that dialogue is the way forward to resolve issues.

"Our Prime Minister has said there is no option in the dealing of countries with each other but to trust, but the trust must be matched with our readiness and our insistence on verification. You have to verify and trust," Khurshid said.

Khurshid said Sharif was elected in May general election on a "clear mandate" of better relations with India and that some "perseverance" and "fortitude" should be shown in the ties.

"The Prime Minister met Mr Nawaz Sharif because Nawaz Sharif has given repeated indications of his desire to normalise the situation between India and Pakistan," he said.
The External Affairs Minister said government was aware about "elements in Pakistan" who are against normalcy of ties between the two countries.

"We would be playing into their hands, if we cut off all avenues of communication with the elected government of Pakistan, that was elected on a clear mandate of better relations with India because during the campaign Mr Nawaz Sharif had made that into a prominent issue," he said.

The massive infiltration bid, the biggest after the 1999 Kargil fiasco, was foiled by the Indian army which yesterday called off its 15-day-long major operation in Keran sector.

"We have asked the DGMOs to meet and meet as often as possible both to eliminate the causes of friction in the past as well as for ensuring that these things don't keep getting repeated," Khurshid said.

"We are still in the process of trying to find solutions. I don't think we should get disappointed and give up soon," he added.

In the meeting with Sharif, Singh had done some plain speaking, laying down the precondition of end to violations of ceasefire along the LoC for progress towards resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue on various issues.

There was no major outcome from the meeting between the two Prime Ministers although it was announced that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries have been tasked to come up with a clear plan to restore ceasefire and the way forward to ensure that it remains in force and in place.