Islamabad: P Chidambaram is the first Indian Home Minister to travel to Pakistan in three decades where he met his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik on Friday. (Read: Chidambaram meets Rehman Malik in Pak)
India has made some of its key concerns known, but it has to be seen how much Pakistan delivers.
Sources have told NDTV that Pakistan has agreed to look into India's concerns on terrorism. But assurance is vague, as there are no tangible promises as yet.
However, India is waiting till Foreign Ministers' meeting to see if Pakistan delivers or not.
India has made some of its key concerns known, but it has to be seen how much Pakistan delivers.
Sources have told NDTV that Pakistan has agreed to look into India's concerns on terrorism. But assurance is vague, as there are no tangible promises as yet.
However, India is waiting till Foreign Ministers' meeting to see if Pakistan delivers or not.
Sources also told that Pakistan has agreed to the increased list of goods across LoC as suggested by India. But neither India nor Pakistan discussed composite dialogue. Separate meetings between Commerce Secretary and Water Secretary may happen.
Meanwhile, the SAARC Interior Ministers Conference has started in Islamabad. Speaking at the meet, Rehman Malik said, "Pakistan has always taken steps to curb terrorism."
Reacting to Malik's speech Chidambaram said that efforts to bring peace by Rehman Malik is commendable.
Mr Chidambaram will push Pakistan to convict Zaki-Ur-Rahman Lakhvi, one of the masterminds of the Mumbai attacks, who's currently on trial as well as reign in Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed. India has requested that at the very least, he be banned from making inflammatory speeches.
During his flight to Islamabad, Chidambaram had told reporters accompanying him that:
- There are important issues relating to terrorism that cannot be brushed aside
- I have been here as Home Minister for last one and half years and the issues have been there much before
- Apart from Hafiz Saeed, there are issues of cross border terrorism, infiltration and somebody will have to address these issues
On Friday, Chidambaram, a lawyer of repute, met his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik. An hour later came this response.
"It was good meeting, I have been saying instead of exchanging dossiers, there should be a change of hearts," said Rehman Malik, Interior Minister, Pakistan.
But India appears to be clear, a change of heart will clearly take more.
"We will not do anything that overshadows that the SAARC meeting but Pakistan must understand that there are serious issues that need to addressed," said P Chidambaram, Home Minister.
The Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan meet in less than three weeks and the trust deficit will have to be bridged if any substantial progress is to be expected.
Story first published:
June 26, 2010 07:15 IST
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/india-makes-stand-terror-clear-but-pak-gives-no-promises-33931?cp
