New Delhi: India has proposed February 18
and 25 to Pakistan for Foreign Secretary-level talks as part
of a "practical and pragmatic" approach to seek redressal of
its core concern of cross-border terrorism but warns that
there will be a huge setback if 26/11 is repeated.
India underlines that the proposed Foreign
Secretary-level talks would not mean resumption of composite
dialogue even though it is ready to discuss whatever issue
Pakistan raises, including Balochistan, as it wants to deal
with the situation in a "mature" and "confident" manner.
From the Indian side, cross-border terrorism and
infiltration, which witnessed a marked increase last year,
will be the "centre-piece" of the proposed meeting.
Under the composite dialogue eight issues including
Jammu and Kashmir and terrorism were discussed in four rounds
of talks before it was "paused" in November 2008 in the wake
of Mumbai attacks.
The Foreign Secretary-level talks "are not composite
dialogue but just dialogue" to "unlock" the channels of
communication frozen since 26/11 attacks, sources said today.
The offer of talks is a "practical and pragmatic
approach" to seek redressal of India's concerns with regard to
cross-border terrorism, the sources said, adding the intention
is to convey its point of view directly to the Pakistani
establishment rather than "firing salvos".
In the ice-breaking decision, Foreign Secretary Nirupama
Rao has invited her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir here
for talks and proposed February 18 and 25 for the same.
While offering Foreign Secretary-level talks as an
"incremental step", India has made it clear that there cannot
be any "meaningful dialogue" or "normalisation" of relations
until its prime concern of cross-border terrorism is addressed
by Pakistan.
Rejecting Pakistan's contention that it would not be able
to prevent a repeat of 26/11, the sources said that if such an
incident takes place again, there will be a "huge setback" to
the efforts to normalise relations.
Sources here underlined that meaningful dialogue cannot
take place in an environment of terror or even the threat of
terror and put the onus on Pakistan government to address
these issues.
"Pakistan must take all necessary steps to prevent any
incident like Mumbai attacks," the sources said.
In this regard, India highlights its concern over the
February 4 joint public meeting in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
of various terror groups, which was addressed by Hafiz Saeed,
chief of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah and talked about jihad against
India.
India's disappointment over Pakistan's inaction over the
public provocative speeches will be put across the Foreign
Secretary talks.
India emphasises that the Pakistan government cannot
throw its hands up on this and those "in-charge" or "taking
decisions" in Pakistan will have to think about these aspects.
"But we need to talk to each other, rather than at each
other," the sources said. However, for any meaningful talks,
Pakistan "will have to be conscious and sensitive" to India's
concerns and crack down on terror groups and individuals.
In response to India's proposal for talks, Pakistan High
Commissioner Shahid Malik met Nirupama Rao on Thursday to know
what would be the agenda and was told that "difficulties" like
terrorism would be the issue to be discussed.
There was "nothing contentious" during the 45-minute
meeting between Rao and Malik, the sources said, adding
Pakistan is expected to respond to India's offer in a couple
of days.
Rejecting the contention that timing for the talks was
premature, the sources noted that Pakistan had taken "some
steps" to prosecute seven of those involved in 26/11 attacks
but underlines that the process has to be taken to logical
conclusion in terms of punishing them and unveiling the entire
conspiracy.
India also expects Pakistan to arrest Hafiz Saeed and 13
others, who were also involved in the Mumbai attacks.
There is need to build "trust and confidence" in the
"complex relations", they said.
Insisting that the proposal to hold talks after 14-month
gap was "dictated" by India itself without anybody else
suggesting it, they said it reflects the country's "maturity"
and "confidence" to deal with issues that concern it.
"We have to give peace a chance", the sources said while
noting India was not entering talks with any "illusions".
On whether the talks between the Foreign Secretaries
could lead to comprehensive dialogue on identified outstanding
issues or India would like to wait till prosecution in 26/11
is taken to logical end, the government here is not willing to
pre-judge such aspects.
With regard to 26/11, India continues to believe that
some elements in Pakistani establishment were "aware" or
"privy" to plans of attack, particularly since Lashkar-e Taiba
has been used as an instrument of State policy, which is now
recoiling on Pakistan itself.
Justifying the decision to have talks, the sources said
India had never shut the door for dialogue while always
maintaining that any meaningful dialogue cannot take place
till its concerns on terrorism are addressed by Pakistan.
The sources revealed that the Foreign Secretary had been
in touch with her Pakistani counterpart, talking over phone,
even before she invited him to Delhi for talks about a week
back, discussing "how to unlock" the process of engagement.
"Relations between countries never remain "static" but
these are dynamic... We can't completely erase what makes
relations exist between neighbours," they said.
"Clearly the infrastructure of terror continues to exist
in Pakistan but we can't ignore the steps Pakistan has taken
although it has not taken all steps," they sources said.
"Dialogue is the only way forward to seek redressal to
our concerns... Engaging Pakistan is the only way forward,"
they said, adding the FS-level talks were intended to deal
with various aspects of the relationship like people-to-people
contacts, confidence building, trade and consular access.
Refusing to accept that India had changed stance and
mellowed down, the sources said absence of communication had
not helped Pakistan and the neighbour needed to introspect.
Expressing India's readiness to "listen" if Pakistan has
"any concerns" on Balochistan, the sources said India need not
be scared of it as it has done "nothing untoward" anywhere in
Pakistan.
"As neighbours, we may have quarrels or differences, but
we can talk about these... We thought of the need to talk and
felt this is the time to start," the sources said.
By not talking to Pakistan, India has made a point to the
world that it is a victim of terrorism originating from
Pakistan and it is being recognised, they said.
With regard to Pakistan's allegation about Indian
interference in Balochistan through Afghanistan, the
government here underlines that Pakistan has "misplaced
notions" about India's activities in Afghanistan as there are
only developmental works going on there.
"Pakistan needs to shed this paranoia."
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 08, 2010, 00:42