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Suo Motu Statement by Shri S.M. Krishna,
Minister of External Affairs in the Parliament on “Talks between
India and Pakistan on February 25, 2010”
26/02/2010
I rise to inform this August House of an important matter concerning
India’s foreign relations.
India and Pakistan held talks at the level of Foreign Secretaries in
New Delhi yesterday, February 25, 2010. The delegation of Pakistan
was led by the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Mr. Salman Bashir.
The invitation to the Pakistan Foreign Secretary should be seen in
the context of Government’s desire to ensure communication between
the two countries, to address the core concerns relating to
terrorism directed against us from Pakistan, and pending
humanitarian issues.
I wish to inform this August House that the two sides held a frank,
constructive and useful meeting. The Indian delegation stated
clearly and in a forthright manner India’s continuing concerns on
terrorism. While noting the steps taken so far by Pakistan regarding
the Mumbai terrorist attack, it was conveyed that these steps did
not go far enough to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist
attack to book in an expeditious and transparent manner, nor are
these steps enough to unveil the full conspiracy behind the attack.
Our Foreign Secretary also stressed the need for Pakistan to take
effective action to ban the anti-India activities of organizations
such as Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which has been proscribed by the Al-Qaida
and Taliban Sanctions Committee established under the UNSC
Resolution 1267, and their leaders who have openly and blatantly
espoused an agenda of violence and terrorism against India, and also
to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism which continues to
exist in the territory under Pakistan’s control and used against
India. Concerns regarding increased infiltration into India and
ceasefire violations by Pakistan across the Line of Control were
also conveyed and Pakistan asked to take necessary steps to prevent
the same. The Indian side called upon Pakistan to investigate the
claims made in the territory under Pakistan’s control owning the
responsibility for the recent Pune blast. Additional information on
terrorist activities against India emanating from Pakistan was also
handed over to the Pakistani side for investigation and appropriate
action.
The Indian delegation reiterated the need to fulfill the repeated
assurances given by the leaders of Pakistan not to allow the use of
Pakistani soil for terrorist activities against India. The four
rounds of Composite Dialogue between the two countries between 2004
and 2007 had been premised on those assurances.
The Pakistan Foreign Secretary expressed the desire and
determination of the Government of Pakistan to make all possible
efforts for a successful conclusion of the Mumbai attack trial which
is underway in Pakistan. He stated that Pakistan was determined not
to allow its territory to be used for terrorist activity against any
country, and said that the additional information provided by India
will be studied.
The two delegations agreed to address some urgent and humanitarian
matters relating to the release of fishermen and prisoners in each
other’s custody.
As can be expected in a diplomatic interaction, Pakistan raised
certain issues of interest to it. We responded appropriately,
reiterating our stated position that outstanding issues in the
relationship should be resolved through bilateral dialogue in an
atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence, free of terror and
violence. On Pakistan’s view that the Composite Dialogue between the
two countries should be restored, we responded that the resumption
of such a process would have to await the restoration of greater
trust and confidence.
If we are to build upon the past discussions held between the two
countries at an appropriate time, trust and confidence between the
two countries must be restored. The sincere and genuine efforts made
in past years in this direction by India have, however, been
repeatedly thwarted by acts of terrorism.
The talks between India and Pakistan on February 25, 2010 represent
an encouraging step towards restoring dialogue and better
communication between the two Governments. The two Foreign
Secretaries have agreed to remain in touch and continue this
endeavour.
As the Prime Minister has said in this August House, we cannot wish
away the fact that Pakistan is our neighbour. Government is
convinced that we must not shut the door on dialogue with Pakistan,
and that such a dialogue, if it gathers momentum, holds tremendous
potential for the progress and well-being of the people of our
region.
India’s engagement with Pakistan will be predicated, as it has been
since the Mumbai terrorist attack, on the response of Pakistan to
our core concerns on terrorism. However, we do not dilute our
position, or our resolve to defeat terrorism, as our Prime Minister
has said, by talking to any country. Communication and engagement
represent the best way forward.
New Delhi
February 26, 2010 |
