New Delhi, March 10
Refusing to set a timeline on the possible resumption of bilateral talks with Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said success in issues involving the two neighbours cannot be achieved in a day, suggesting a long haul.

A day after he hosted lunch in Jaipur for Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf during a private visit to offer prayers at the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the minister reiterated that it was “not an official” trip for which the government extended courtesy.

However, he did stress that success on issues involving India and Pakistan cannot be achieved in a day, suggesting that a firm foundation will have to be laid by both sides to move forward.

The minister made the statement at Ghaziabad on the sidelines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Raising Day parade at Indirapuram today. Responding to questions on possible timelines for bilateral talks, Khurshid said he would not be able to give a timeframe.

Since the visit of then External Affairs Minister SM Krishna to Islamabad last September, progress in Indo-Pak talks hit a roadblock after the incident of mutilation of bodies of two Indian soldiers on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

After the brutal incident, New Delhi lodged a strong protest stating that it cannot be business as usual and asked Islamabad to take action and issued a statement: “It should not be felt that the brazen denial and the lack of a proper response from the Government of Pakistan to our repeated demarches on this incident will be ignored and that bilateral relations could be unaffected or that there will be business as usual.” 

roadblock
Progress in Indo-Pak talks hit a roadblock after the incident of mutilation of bodies of two Indian soldiers on the LoC
After the brutal incident, New Delhi lodged a strong protest 
It issued a statement saying it cannot be business as usual and asked Islamabad to take action
The minister suggested that a firm foundation will have to be laid by both sides to move forward