M A I N   N E W S

LoC Tension
Khar’s talk offer doesn’t enthuse India
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, January 17
Though it acknowledges that tension with Pakistan has eased somewhat after yesterday’s meeting between the DGMOs of the two countries, India is not enthused by Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s proposal for talks between the foreign ministers at this stage.

Official sources said New Delhi would not like to rush into any negotiations with the neighbouring country until it probed the recent barbaric killing of two Indian soldiers on the Line of Control (LoC).

New Delhi is relieved that the Pakistani Foreign Minister, after accusing India of war-mongering, has realised the futility of raising the pitch in order to internationalise the Kashmir issue. “We have to resolve our bilateral issues between us without any outside interference...that’s the way to move forward,” sources added.

Defence Minister AK Antony and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid are understood to have briefed the Union Cabinet on the situation arising out of the recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the subsequent tension in ties between the two countries.

While Antony told the meeting that the level of tension has come down, Khurshid spoke about the conciliatory statement made by the Pakistan Foreign Minister late last night suggesting talks between the two foreign ministers. Her statement is being seen by New Delhi as one which marks a shift from Islamabad’s earlier position calling for a UN probe into ceasefire violations.

Khurshid is also learnt to have told the Cabinet that a decision on talks between the two foreign ministers could only be taken if there was a formal communication in this regard from Islamabad.

“Direct talks between counterparts don’t just come in a jiffy; you sort of work up gradually or work towards something...you can’t go in a meeting ill prepared and then walk out of the meeting,” the Foreign Minister told a TV news channel.