M A I N   N E W S

Sushma doesn’t rule out Modi-Sharif meet in US
Blames Pakistan for ‘derailing’ talks; says Indian captives in Iraq safe
KV Prasad
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 8
India today kept open the possibility of a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this month.

"As the situation emerges, we will respond accordingly... we are not going with a preset mind," said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, while holding Islamabad responsible for "derailing" the talk progress.

She said India, under the new leadership, had taken the initiative of improving ties with its neighbours, including Pakistan.

On the cancellation of talks between the two countries after the Pakistan High Commissioner met Hurriyat leaders in Delhi last month, she said: "I do not know what the need was. Why did they derail the talks? What did they achieve....who derailed the initiative? ... Pakistan did," she said.

On the government's plan to deal with Pakistan, she said: "There is no full stop in diplomacy, it's always comas and semi colon. And after all this, people always move forward. There are no full stops in diplomatic journey."

She said she was disappointed with the delay in trial proceedings of the Mumbai terror attack case in Pakistan but said it could not be compared to the 2008 Samjhauta Express blasts of 2007. Summarising the 100 days of the Modi government vis-a-vis foreign policy and conduct of diplomacy, she said it had three distinct signs - pro-active, sensitive and strong.

"Proactive in reaching out to neighbours, sensitive in coming to the aid of citizens in distress in foreign lands, and strong in calling off talks with Pakistan, telling the US that its snooping activities were unacceptable and conveying to China that just as India recognises One China, New Delhi's sensitivities should be kept in mind with regard to Arunachal Pradesh," she said.

She said she would soon visit Afghanistan. "New Delhi, for the first time, has decided to invite all 54 countries for the India-Africa Summit," she said.

About Indians held captive by suspected Sunni militants in Iraq, she said: "Indirect sources have informed the government that they are safe."

She said Modi would meet US President Barack Obama in Washington on September 30 and discuss issues related to defence, trade and bilateral interests.