M A I N   N E W S

Indo-Pak Foreign Secys to meet on June 23-24
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, June 17
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will hold talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in Islamabad on June 23-24 during which India is expected to impress upon Pakistan the necessity of bringing to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 attack.

Responding to questions about the agenda for the talks, MEA spokesman Vishnu Prakash said the two top diplomats would discuss peace and security, including confidence-building measures (CBMs), Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of friendly exchanges.

“In addition, they are expected to review the progress in the recent rounds of bilateral talks between various ministries of both the countries. This would naturally cover all issues of mutual concern, including the continuing threat posed by terrorism,” he added.

It was in February that Rao and Bashir agreed to resume the dialogue process when they met in Thimphu on the margins of the SAARC Council of Ministers’ meeting. The subjects identified for the talks were counter-terrorism (including progress on the 26/11 trial), humanitarian issues, peace and security, including CBMs and Jammu and Kashmir.