They are expected to talk about the modalities for bringing down the post 26/11 trust deficit and rebuilding mutual confidence between the two nations.
Krishna, himself, revealed his plan to talk to Qureshi over telephone in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. He said that India had decided to have parleys with Pakistan, as there had been a transformation in ties with assurances coming from Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani that India’s “core concern” on terrorism emanating from the neighbouring country would be addressed by Islamabad adequately.
“Indeed, I am talking to my Pakistani counterpart on Friday (over phone),” he said.
A meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gilani on the sideline of the SAARC summit in Thimphu ended the diplomatic chill that followed the November 26, 2008 terrorist attacks. The two leaders had asked their Foreign Secretaries and Foreign Ministers to meet as soon as possible “to take the process forward” and to explore ways “to restore trust and build mutual confidence”
Sources in the government said that Krishna and Qureshi would discuss about the possible date and venue for a meeting. Talks between the two ministers could be preceded by preparatory meetings between the Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir.
DH News Service
