Atmosphere conducive for talks: Natwar

The atmosphere is conducive for talks between India and Pakistan and New Delhi is giving it the "best shot," but a "miracle" should not be expected during the coming visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to the country, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said in New Delhi Monday.

"Yeh 57 saal se chala aa raha hai. Toh koi chamatkar toh hoga nahi. Hamari puri koshish chal rahi hai (It is continuing from the last 57 years. So there would be no miracle. We are trying our best)," he told reporters after flagging off the 'Chalo Asean Car Rally' here.

India has given several proposals for improving ties with Pakistan and it is hoped that discussions on most of these would take place during the three-day visit of Aziz beginning November 23, he added.

"We have given them many proposals. They have responded to some of them and hopefully their Prime Minister will come and discuss most of them during his visit," Singh said, adding India has, however, not received any formal "formula" yet.

"No, we

have not received any formula as such. May be Aziz will bring it with him," he said responding to a query. Asked whether he was optimistic or pessimistic about the visit of Aziz, Singh said "I don't look at it in those terms. We are looking in terms of realism and we are giving it our best shot."

Natwar Singh said there was no structural agenda for talks with Aziz and various issues would be discussed.

He said parleys on various issues, including more rail and road links between the two countries, opening of consulates in Karachi and Mumbai apart from talks on nuclear issues and cross-border terrorism, would also begin shortly.

Asked whether cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir had reduced recently, Natwar Singh replied in the affirmative and added that there were many reasons behind it, including the weather conditions.

"Yes, cross-border terrorism has reduced recently but it has many reasons, including the climate. We hope that the efforts of the Pakistan Government to stop it was also one of the reasons," he said.