No jt statement after Pak talks
New Delhi, Feb. 24: Thursday’s talks between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan is not expected to yield a joint statement. For New Delhi, the meeting between Ms Nirupama Rao and her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir, who arrived here
on Wednesday, would be a reasonable success if Islamabad were to recognise the "trust deficit" between the two countries and respond by taking steps, however small, so that the possibility of future dialogue is not undermined.
The differences over the ambit and nature of talks persist, with Islamabad maintaining that Kashmir will be a priority for its delegation and New Delhi reiterating that it would like to focus on the issue of cross-border terrorism.
Sources here sought to play down expectations of any significant outcome from the talks. A source said New Delhi was conscious of the limitations imposed by the "trust deficit" following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The source noted that given the complexities involved, the Indian side would use the opportunity of talks to clear the air as much as possible.
Soon after his arrival here, Mr Bashir held back-to-back meetings with representatives of Kashmiri groups such as Syed Ali
Shah Geelani, chairman of the Hurriyat’s hardline faction, the moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik. Maulana Abbas Ansari, Abdul Gani Bhat, Aga Syed Hassan Al-Mousvi Al-Safvi and Bilal Lone accompanied the Mirwaiz for the meeting with Mr Bashir.
Earlier, talking to reporters at the airport here, Mr Bashir said he was hopeful of a positive outcome. "It is good to be back. I have come here to bridge the differences," he said.
The Pakistan foreign secretary will call on external affairs minister S.M. Krishna and national security adviser Shivshankar Menon during his stay here.
Age Correspondent
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