Meet belies conspiracy theories against India - Specials - Home - The Times of India
ISLAMABAD: The first meeting between PM Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Yousaf Raza Gilani, in nine months on the sidelines of Saarc summit in Bhutan has belied perceptions in Pakistan that an Indian diplomats arrest on spying charges in Islamabad was timed to derail the resumption of the bilateral dialogue.
The diplomats arrest on Wednesday fuelled conspiracy theories in the run-up to the summit that the arrest was meant to disrupt any positive outcome from the Singh-Gilani meeting.
Pakistan foreign policy experts also see Thursdays meeting as the resumption of the composite dialogue. The environment wasnt conducive for the talks (in the backdrop of the diplomats arrest) but the resumption of the composite dialogue, a process which has defined a road map, has provided some breathing space to Pakistan, said former Pakistan foreign secretary Akram Zaki. Theres no way forward without the composite dialogue.
He said though the two countries have agreed to continue the process with the the meeting of the foreign ministers, Pakistan would seek inclusion of all outstanding issues for discussion, while India is likely stick to terrorism as the core issue in the talks. Strong lobbies, who want to sabotage the process, exist in both countries, he said. Another foreign secretary, Shamshad Ahmed, echoed Zaki saying Indias strategy would remain to press Pakistan on the terrorism front. India is aware that Pakistan is passing through the most critical time in its history, he said, adding that the war on terror and the Mumbai incident provided India a good opportunity to squeeze Pakistan.
Sources attributed the success of the meeting to a lot of homework done secretly. Intelligence officials of the two countries are said to have met several times in third countries, recently, to lessen the trust deficit. Sources said Gilani and Singh remained in touch while foreign secretaries Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir enjoy a good rapport as they have know each other since they were posted in China.
ISLAMABAD: The first meeting between PM Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Yousaf Raza Gilani, in nine months on the sidelines of Saarc summit in Bhutan has belied perceptions in Pakistan that an Indian diplomats arrest on spying charges in Islamabad was timed to derail the resumption of the bilateral dialogue.
The diplomats arrest on Wednesday fuelled conspiracy theories in the run-up to the summit that the arrest was meant to disrupt any positive outcome from the Singh-Gilani meeting.
Pakistan foreign policy experts also see Thursdays meeting as the resumption of the composite dialogue. The environment wasnt conducive for the talks (in the backdrop of the diplomats arrest) but the resumption of the composite dialogue, a process which has defined a road map, has provided some breathing space to Pakistan, said former Pakistan foreign secretary Akram Zaki. Theres no way forward without the composite dialogue.
He said though the two countries have agreed to continue the process with the the meeting of the foreign ministers, Pakistan would seek inclusion of all outstanding issues for discussion, while India is likely stick to terrorism as the core issue in the talks. Strong lobbies, who want to sabotage the process, exist in both countries, he said. Another foreign secretary, Shamshad Ahmed, echoed Zaki saying Indias strategy would remain to press Pakistan on the terrorism front. India is aware that Pakistan is passing through the most critical time in its history, he said, adding that the war on terror and the Mumbai incident provided India a good opportunity to squeeze Pakistan.
Sources attributed the success of the meeting to a lot of homework done secretly. Intelligence officials of the two countries are said to have met several times in third countries, recently, to lessen the trust deficit. Sources said Gilani and Singh remained in touch while foreign secretaries Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir enjoy a good rapport as they have know each other since they were posted in China.
