'India can't shut its eyes to threats from Pak'

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Saturday downplayed expectations from the proposed meeting between the Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly next week, adding that India cannot shut its eyes to terror threat from Pakistan.

"We hope and expect that Pakistan will focus in a meaningful manner on our concerns on terrorism. It is our hope and expectation that Pakistan fulfills all its commitments," Rao said.

Reacting to the recent incidents of cease-fire violations, including episodes of rocket firing and Infiltration, Foreign Secretary Rao said: "It is the responsibility of Pakistan to see that whoever is responsible, should not have the license to disturb the relationship."

Emphasizing that engagement is in the long-term interest of both India and Pakistan, Rao reiterated, "We cannot shut our eyes to the terror threat emanating from Pakistan. The peace process is contingent on the action Pakistan takes against terrorism."

It was mandated during the Sharm-el Sheikh summit meeting between Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani that the foreign secretaries of both countries will meet before the foreign ministers do in New York.

Rao told media persons that we are working out on the dates and the timing of the meeting between the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers.

Meanwhile, Rao will head for the United States on Monday to meet US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. She is expected to meet her Pakistani Counterpart Salman Bashir later.

Amid mounting pressure from the US and India to act against terrorists operating from Pakistani soil, Pakistan has filed fresh cases against Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has also downplayed his forthcoming meeting with his Indian counterpart Krishna by saying that Islamabad will not accept any conditionalities for holding talks or resuming the composite dialogue.

Krishna will represent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly. He will also attend meetings of the G-15, IBSA, the Commonwealth, the India GCC, a meeting on climate change and an informal meeting of the SAARC Council.