Finally India, Pakistan Officially Meet in New Delhi

Finally India, Pakistan Officially Meet in New Delhi

New Delhi (ABC Live): Finally India and Pakistan officially met on Thursday after 26/11.

New Delhi (ABC Live): Finally India and Pakistan officially met on Thursday after 26/11.

At the day-long talks between Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir aimed at ending the chill in bilateral ties, the two sides noted the "trust" deficit in the ties and decided to "remain in touch and continue endeavour to restore trust".

Rao told a press conference after the talks that "We have set out to take a first step towards rebuilding trust and I believe my meeting with the Pakistan Foreign Secretary has constituted that first step."

While India focussed on cross-border terrorism, Pakistan raised the issue of Kashmir, Balochistan and the water dispute. The Indian side also voiced concern over the beheading of a Sikh by Taliban in Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao says that India hands over three dossiers to Pakistan -- one on involvement of certain individuals in 26/11 attacks, second on threats issued by terrorist Illyas Kashmiri and the third on fugitives from Indian law in Pakistan.

“It is duty of Pakistan to dismantle terror infrastructure targeted against India”, says Rao.

In this regard, a reference was made to Hafiz Saeed's provocative speech in Lahore on 5th February in which he openly incited terror violence against India.

"It was emphasized that the Government of India could not but take a serious note of such actions as it was duty bound to ensure the security of its citizens," Rao said.

India demanded hand over of retired Army Major Iqbal besides Hafiz Saeed and some Lashker operatives like Muzzamil, Abu Hamza, Abu Kahfa, Usman and Sajjid Mir in connection with Mumbai attacks.

India asked Pakistan to investigate the claim made by a hitherto unknown organisation, Lashkar-e-Toiba Al Almi and a separate claim by Ilyas Kahmiri owning responsibility for the recent Pune blast.

Pakistan sought resumption of composite dialogue that was halted by India in the wake of Mumbai attacks but New Delhi disfavoured it, saying "time is not right" and appropriate "climate" was required for it and that could be achieved through a "step-by-step" approach.