Describing terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil as “real concerns”, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao on Friday said the issue is part of the Indo-Pak foreign minister level dialogue which resumes next month.
The parleys primarily aim at “bridging” the “trust deficit” between the two South Asian neighbours.
“There are very real concerns about terrorism emanating from the soil of Pakistan that is being directed against India. It forms very much the part of the dialogue that we are conducting and hope to take forward with Pakistan,” Ms Rao told in response to a question at an event organised by the Brookings Institute — a Washington-based think-tank — and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Reiterating the government of India position, Ms Rao said New Delhi is committed to resolve all its issues with Pakistan through dialogue. “The issues between India and Pakistan exits they have to be resolved through dialogue between India and Pakistan,” she said adding that there are very real outstanding issues that need resolution.
“Recently our Prime Minister has taken the initiative to reach out to Pakistan and offer to resume dialogue. As you know, the foreign ministers (of the two countries) would meet in Islamabad on 15th of July. We want to address the issue of trust deficit with Pakistan and to look at how we can take this dialogue,” Ms Rao said in response to a question.
Earlier, Ms Rao said the scheduled November visit of the US President, Barack Obama, would take the endeavour to strengthen Indo-US relations to greater heights.
“The transformation of our relationship is taking place against the backdrop of India’s initiatives to reform its economic and the geo-political changes in the post-cold war world,” she said. Ms Rao said there is increasing convergence of interest on major global issues — the imperatives of a multi-polar and inter connected world today set the stage for us to address global challenges — whether it be the rising threat of terrorism and extremism or ensuring a balance, equitable, sustainable development for all, energy security and food security for both our people and around the globe.
“We see the US as a friend and a valuable partner in our developmental efforts,” she said. —PTI
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SMK seeks access to Headley
Washington, June 4: India on Friday pressed the US to grant access to Mumbai attacks plotter David Coleman Headley hoping that it will understand the “sensitivities” involved, as a team of Indian investigators arrived in Chicago.
External affairs minister S.M. Krishna said the US has assured India that it would be given access to Headley, who is currently lodged in a Chicago prison, and it would be “accommodated” and “arranged” within the legal framework of the US. “We have been assured that we will have access to Headley. It is going to be accommodated and arranged within the legal framework of of the US,” Mr Krishna told a press conference, wrapping up his four-day visit to the US.
He said Headley is an American citizen and he is fully covered by the American laws. “Whatever the US legal system provides, he is entitled to. We have to respect that,” he said.
—PTI