FS-level talks between India, Pak come to an end

Talks between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan have ended, and according to reports, both sides have reportedly agreed to start the process to hold delegation-level talks.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir met each other along with their respective officials for a little over an hour at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Both are expected to address separate press conferences in the capital today afternoon.

Before kicking off the talks at Hyderabad House at New Delhi, Rao said, "I welcome Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Salman Bashir. I look forward to our talks".

Bashir said, "It is a pleasure for me to be back here. We are also looking forward to a very good, constructive engagement".

At the talks, India reportedly raised concerns over continued terrorism emanating from Pakistan and press it to end this scourge, which was hampering the normalisation of ties. The Pakistani side was expected to raise the contentious Kashmir issue and the river water distribution row.

India has made it clear that terrorism is the focus of these talks although it was ready to discuss any issue that could yield to peace and security between the two countries. India has played down any great expectations from these talks and cited the 'trust deficit' between the two countries.

New Delhi has emphasised that the foreign secretary-level talks did not mean resumption of composite dialogue, which was put on hold by India after the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by ten Pakistani nationals.

After 26/11, foreign secretaries of the two countries have been meeting on the sidelines of various multi-lateral events. The last formal meeting between the foreign secretaries was held in May 2008. Refusing to pre-judge the outcome of the talks, India says the future of the relations could be determined by the way Pakistan acts on New Delhi's concerns.

Bashir is also scheduled to call on External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.

Prior to Mumbai terror attacks, the composite dialogue, which was launched in 2004, had made considerable progress during the four rounds. Under the composite dialogue, eight issues including Jammu and Kashmir, Confidence Building Measures, Siachen and Sir Creek had been discussed.