NEWS

We will keep engaging Pak: Krishna to US

Source:PTI
June 04, 2010

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said on Friday that the trust deficit between India and Pakistan can be "reduced" and "eliminated" only through dialogue though things are "not moving in the direction we want to".

At the same time, Krishna also expressed displeasure at Pakistan's investigations into the Mumbai attacks, saying "things are not moving in the direction we want".

He said the decision to resume dialogue was taken by the prime ministers of India and Pakistan.

"I am looking forward to going to Islamabad. My effort would be to start with there is a trust deficit between the two countries. This visit would be address that trust deficit," he said.

"That (trust deficit) can be reduced and eliminated only if we keep talking and meeting each other... we are just giving try. I am hopeful that Pakistan will not find wanting in India's efforts to reach out," Krishna, who would be travelling to Islamabad on July 15, said.

The minister recalled Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that he would go more than half the way if Pakistan takes action against those responsible for the Mumbai attacks.

"Well, things are not exactly going as per our estimates, but nonetheless, we can't give up, we will have to keep engaging Pakistan, we will have to keep talking to them and that is what we intend doing," he said.

On Taliban, he said there is no doubt it was a terrorist organisation, but if it denounces violence and disassociates itself with other militant outfits they may be integrated into the mainstream.

"The leadership of the Afghan government and people to -- if they are willing to do business with Taliban and that is disassociate itself with all the terrorist organisations and subscribe to the rule of law, the constitution of Afghanistan, subscribe to the lawfully constituted government of Afghanistan. If these lines are accepted then perhaps President Karzai would be in a position to talk to them," he said.
Source: PTI
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