Islamabad, July 23
The Pakistan army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency have launched concerted efforts to be involved in talks with India.

Diplomatic and other sources say the two organisations believe they can play a role because they are intrinsically linked to policy-making in Pakistan.

ISI chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha, a trusted aide of powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, has been involved in the move and reportedly brought up the matter during a meeting with three defence advisers in the Indian High Commission earlier this month, the sources said. Pasha suggested to the defence advisors representing the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force during the meeting held on July 3 that the ISI and Pakistan army should find a place in bilateral talks as they played a key role in helping the foreign ministry formulate its policies, they said.

Over the past few weeks, members of the Pakistani security establishment have privately sounded out Pakistani journalists about the need for the ISI and the army to have a role in talks with India. The journalists were told that talks with India would be more meaningful if New Delhi was in “direct contact” with the ISI and army as they were the real “power centres” in Pakistan.

Officials of the Indian High Commission refused to comment on the development. The Pakistan army spokesman too could not be reached for a reaction.

However, sources said there was a problem of “disconnect” in the proposal mooted by the Pakistani establishment. “In India, the intelligence agencies and Army only act in an advisory capacity by briefing the External Affairs Ministry and other departments for talks with Pakistan. They do not make decisions and they have no direct role in the dialogue unless the talks are on security-related issues like Siachen or Sir Creek,” a senior official, who did not want to be named, said. “On the Pakistani side, it is a totally different ballgame as the military and ISI are very much a part of decision-making and policy formulation,” he said.

Besides, sources pointed out that no formal proposal had been made by Islamabad about involving the army or the ISI in the talks.

Significance is also being attached to Pasha’s decision to have a separate meeting with the three Indian defence advisors. — PTI 

Washington, July 23
Army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor today met US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and is understood to have discussed issues related to defence cooperation between the two countries.

Kapoor, who is currently on a visit here, met Mullen and his counterpart George W Casey at the Pentagon and is believed to have discussed bilateral issues matters related to the region. The two sides are understood to have deliberated on contemporary strategic issues, including AfPak policy and regional security situation. The discussions are also believed to have delved on the Indo-US defence cooperation, including joint training and exercises, exchanges and military equipment cooperation. — PTI

Islamabad, July 23
Pakistan today did not confirm or deny reports that it handed over a dossier to New Delhi on the alleged Indian involvement in unrest in Balochistan, saying the issue involved intelligence matters, which cannot be discussed in public.

Foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit said the Joint Statement issued after the meeting between the Pakistan Prime Minister and his Indian counterpart on the sidelines of the NAM summit had adequately covered the matter.

“All I can say is that whatever was discussed and handed over is contained in the Joint Statement,” Basit told a weekly news briefing, responding to a question on whether Pakistan had handed over a dossier on India’s alleged involvement in unrest in Balochistan to Singh.

The issue involved intelligence matters and Pakistan does not discuss such issues in public as a matter of policy, he said.

The spokesman evaded several pointed questions on the matter, saying only that the Joint Statement amply reflected Pakistan’s position.

A section of Pakistani media had reported that a dossier on India’s alleged involvement in unrest in Balochistan and terrorist attacks was handed over to Singh during his meeting with Gilani.

Indian officials have said no such dossier or information was handed over during the meeting. The Joint Statement issued on July 16 only said that Gilani “mentioned that Pakistan has some information on threats in Balochistan and other areas.”

In response to a question about differences between Pakistan and India over the interpretation of the Joint Statement, Basit said the document was jointly drafted and adopted after the meeting between the two premiers. — PTI

London, July 23
The delectable Asian curry ‘chicken tikka masala’, a favourite in the UK, entered the House of Commons after a lawmaker made a strong bid to get Glasgow officially recognised as the home of the dish.

Mohammad Sarwar of Pakistani origin and Labour MP for Glasgow Central, tabled an early day motion in the House seeking EU protected ‘Designation of Origin status’ for the curry.

Sarwar claimed that the dish was invented in the Scottish town of Glasgow by Ali Ahmed Aslam, proprietor of the Shish Mahal restaurant in the seventies, in the town’s west end.

The place is also three times winner of the ‘Curry capital of Britain’ award.

It is also believed that Asian immigrants catering to Western palates created mild curry decades ago in a Glaswegian kitchen.

Sarwar told the BBC: “Glasgow’s contribution to popular cuisine deserves to be more widely recognised. Tikka Masala is perhaps one of the earliest examples of ‘fusion’ cuisine.”

Sarwar said he is hopeful that the “EU will give chicken tikka masala the official stamp of Glasgow origin.” Glasgow City Council is backing his campaign.

Meanwhile, Birmingham City Council is seeking a similar status for ‘Balti’ range of dishes on the ground that they were invented by immigrants from the Indian sub-continent in the city. — PTI