'India offered to talk to end stalemate with Pak'

Officials in the Indian government are convinced that the 'calculated move' to invite Pakistan to talks is the best way to unlock the present stalemate and to prod the neighbouring country to take action against terrorism.

A top official from the Indian government said on condition of anonymity that India had taken a 'pragmatical and practical' step by inviting Pakistan to talks, as this could 'unlock' the halt in peace process.

India wants terrorism as the 'core issue' for the talks and clarified that the foreign secretary's proposal is not in the format of composite dialogue, he said.

"It is more to do reviewing the bilateral relations," the official said.

But at the same time, the government official said, India is not opposed to the 'composite dialogue' if that can bring peace in the region.

For the first time after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao sent a formal proposal to her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir for talks in the last week of January.

The senior government official said the decision to hold dialogue at this juncture was taken following an assessment of the ongoing 26/11 trial in Pakistan and the recent incidents of infiltration.

Sources in the Indian government said India's offer for talks is in an effort to 'enhance trust and confidence' through a 'meaningful dialogue' between the two countries which has had a history of complex relations.

India wants Pakistan to take 'effective steps' to dismantle terrorist activities and anti-India activities emanating from its soil, and it will be the core issue from the Indian side in the foreign secretary-level talks among other bilateral issues proposed for February 18 or February 25, the sources said.

India is awaiting Pakistan's response to the proposed dates and content of the talks.

Pakistan has taken 'some steps' in prosecuting those responsible for the Mumbai attacks -- a criminal trial is underway -- but India wants to flag its concern over the larger infrastructure of terrorism that is operating and affecting the relationship.

In the last three months, India has proposed to Pakistan twice on having talks, specifically on terrorism.

India wants Pakistan to conclude the 26/11 trial expeditiously and in a transparent manner, besides unveiling the larger conspiracy in Pakistan behind the Mumbai attacks, sources said.

It may also ask Pakistan to take action on ideologues and other anti-India elements, they added.

India has provided extensive information and evidence to Pakistan on the Mumbai attacks. So far, India has handed over seven dossiers to Pakistan with evidence on involvement by Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafeez Saeed and others.

India is unlikely to hand over any more evidence or information, the sources said. 

It is believed that India will not be edgy to hear Pakistan's claims on Indian involvement in Baluchistan.

"If Pakistan is keen to raise the issue of Balochistan, India is willing to listen to them. It will establish that there is no basis or foundation to Pakistan's concern because India doesn't believe in interfering in the internal matters of another sovereign country," the official said.

"India has done nothing untoward and its conduct has been an open book," added the source, "and, we say it with conviction and confidence".

The talks also might be the last opportunity for Pakistan to defend itself against terror attacks in India.

Another Mumbai-like attack following the offer for talks will not only affect the relations between India and Pakistan, but will complicate the situation further.

"The decision-making apparatus in Pakistan has to be conscious about it; it will be a big setback," a source said.