M A I N   N E W S

Krishna to visit Pak
* Anticipates ‘meaningful’ dialogue with Qureshi on July 15
* Prior to that, Chidambaram to visit Islamabad on June 26
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke to each other on telephone on Tuesday The minister hoped the discussions would help bring their two countries establish cordiality in bilateral ties The conversation between Krishna and Qureshi took place twelve days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani in Thimphu Krishna is believed to have inquired about the progress in the ongoing trial of the seven persons arrested by the Pakistani authorities for their suspected role in the Mumbai attacks

New Delhi, May 11
Taking a significant step towards the formal resumption of dialogue between their two countries suspended since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke to each other on telephone today.

Krishna accepted an invitation from Qureshi to visit Islamabad on July 15 to hold a meaningful dialogue to discuss all outstanding issues in a spirit of mutual trust.

“The foreign minister of Pakistan has invited me to visit Islamabad on July 15. So I am planning to visit Islamabad for my talks with Foreign Minister Qureshi’’, the Indian Minister told reporters at his South Block office shortly after his 25-minute telephonic conversation.

The minister, who later left for Kazakhstan on an official tour, said he was looking forward to these talks and hoped the discussions between the two foreign ministers would help bring their two countries closer and establish cordiality in bilateral ties.

The conversation between Krishna and Qureshi took place twelve days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani in Thimphu on the margins of the SAARC Summit and the two mandated their foreign ministers and foreign secretaries to meet and work out modalities for restoring trust between the two countries.

Before Krishna’s visit on July 15, Home Minister P Chidambaram is scheduled to visit Islamabad for the SAARC Interior/Home Ministers’ conference on June 26. The two foreign secretaries would also meet on the sidelines of the SAARC Interior Ministers’ meeting on June 26, Qureshi told the media in Islamabad.

Indian officials said the two ministers discussed various issues that have bedevilled ties between their two nations. Krishna is believed to have inquired about the progress in the ongoing trial in a Rawalpindi anti-terror court of the seven people arrested by the Pakistani authorities for their suspected role in the Mumbai attacks. New Delhi is insisting on a speedy trial of the accused so that the perpetrators of the attacks could be brought to justice.

“Let us hope that these talks will be helpful in bringing our two countries closer together, bringing our two countries the cordiality that all of us desire. And let us hope that our effort will be fruitful,’’ Krishna said.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Pakistani minister termed his conversation with Krishna as a very important step in bilateral relations. He, however, cautioned against creating any false hopes and said he remained optimistic despite the ‘uphill task’.

Qureshi said all issues which were part of the composite dialogue (CD) would be discussed during meetings between the foreign secretaries and the foreign ministers.

India suspended the CD after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks when the fourth round of the process was process was under way.

New Delhi is now not keen on resuming the CD and wants the talks to be held under a different nomenclature. Islamabad, however, wants the revival of CD.