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India open to second round of talks with Pak on air links
New Delhi, Oct 20: India is willing to have a second round of discussions with Pakistan for restoring civil aviation links provided it came with an `open mind` and look at `other steps` later, foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal has said.
New Delhi, Oct 20: India is willing to have a second round of discussions with Pakistan for restoring civil aviation links provided it came with an "open mind" and look at "other steps" later, foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal has said.
"We were ready to have civil aviation links but Pakistan put a spoke. We are willing to have the second round provided they come with an open mind," he said in a television interview.
The first round of talks on this score failed to make any headway after Pakistan sought guarantees from India on the issue of overflight facilities, a demand rejected by India.
"We can later look at other steps," he said, adding a lot has happened at people-to-people level contacts and on the trade front with exchanges of business delegations.
Government has cleared a proposal by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to have a 'Made in Pakistan' exhibition here, he said.
Asked if Pakistan does not stop cross-border terrorism, would India's hand of friendship remain suspended in the air, he said "Our hand of friendship has been extended. It is for Pakistan to grasp it."
He made it clear that unless Pakistan put an end to cross-border terrorism "We cannot have a sustained dialogue. We cannot really have any enduring relationship".
Bureau Report
"We were ready to have civil aviation links but Pakistan put a spoke. We are willing to have the second round provided they come with an open mind," he said in a television interview.
The first round of talks on this score failed to make any headway after Pakistan sought guarantees from India on the issue of overflight facilities, a demand rejected by India.
"We can later look at other steps," he said, adding a lot has happened at people-to-people level contacts and on the trade front with exchanges of business delegations.
Government has cleared a proposal by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to have a 'Made in Pakistan' exhibition here, he said.
Asked if Pakistan does not stop cross-border terrorism, would India's hand of friendship remain suspended in the air, he said "Our hand of friendship has been extended. It is for Pakistan to grasp it."
He made it clear that unless Pakistan put an end to cross-border terrorism "We cannot have a sustained dialogue. We cannot really have any enduring relationship".
Bureau Report