Official Spokesperson’s Briefing on the
Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan
(New Delhi; November 14, 2006)
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON (SHRI NAVTEJ SARNA):
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is a very brief factual update on the
talks today. As you know the Foreign Secretary level talks between India and
Pakistan began this morning and they are continuing tomorrow. So, it would not
be correct at this stage to go into too many details.
A very extensive discussion was held this morning between the two delegations
led by the respective Foreign Secretaries. The discussion carried on over a
working lunch. As you know, normally the Foreign Secretary level discussions are
an occasion to review the composite dialogue process and that was done. This was
a meeting to resume the composite dialogue, so to speak, which had not been held
after the Mumbai blasts.
Part of the discussions naturally were focused on the declaration that was
agreed to between Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Musharraf in
Havana, the follow-up action being taken thereafter. The two sides also
discussed the menace of terrorism and the proposed anti-terror mechanism under
the Declaration.
They also discussed J & K which is normally discussed
when Foreign Secretaries meet as part of the composite dialogue. As part of
that, they discussed the confidence-building measures, in particular the
cross-LOC confidence-building measures that had been proposed and were partially
implemented.
The status of several other confidence-building measures which have been on the
table was reviewed with the objective of pushing them forward to an early
implementation. Other issues of bilateral relations which have been implemented
in part or been constantly under review such as travel, such as the situation
regarding civilian prisoners, fishermen, other CBMs dealing with
non-conventional and conventional security issues, were discussed.
Economic and commercial relations between the two countries came up for
discussion. As I said, this meeting will resume tomorrow and we will have much
more details for you thereafter.
In the afternoon at about 4:30, the Pakistan Foreign
Secretary and members of his delegation called on the External Affairs Minister,
Shri Pranab Mukherjee. The call lasted for about half an hour. The External
Affairs Minister reviewed the discussions held by the two Foreign Secretaries
and gave his viewpoint in general terms on why it was important that both sides
should fight the menace of terrorism jointly. He also welcomed the resumption of
the dialogue process and underlined the need to address all issues as part of
this process.
He also recalled some of the achievements of this dialogue process which have
already borne fruit. For instance, the very positive change in atmosphere in the
relationship between the two countries which was very much in evidence in the
wake of the earthquake, when we had been able to make offers for rehabilitation
and relief work to be carried out on the other side of the LOC. EAM also
stressed to the delegations the need to take further action so that the
expectation of the people of both countries can be fulfilled.
I am afraid, I know you have several questions, I
have to leave it at that for today.
QUESTION: Is there something on China …
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON: The External Affairs Minister has already said it.
It is on all the channels since the morning.
QUESTION: Regarding terrorism, did we share the evidence with them?
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON: I do not want to go into any more details. I think
you will have a chance to discuss all these issues. This is an on-going meeting.
QUESTION: Was Siachen not discussed?
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON: I did not say that.
QUESTION: Was it discussed?
QUESTION: How will you describe today’s meeting, Sir?
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON: As I said, it was a very detailed meeting; it was
held in a very constructive and positive atmosphere; and it is not over yet.
QUESTION: What was discussed …
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON: I do not want to go into discussions of what
exactly was said or not. I did tell you that considerable amount of time was
spent in discussing terrorism in the wake of the Havana Declaration.
QUESTION: What are the proposed CBMs? Siachen…?
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON:
We will give you more details tomorrow as to what is
being finalized. There are several CBMs which you are already aware of, which
have not yet been implemented, in all fields.
On Siachen, to give you a specific answer, this is something which has been
informally discussed by the two Foreign Secretaries. So, there is no point in
saying it was not discussed between 10 to 11 or it was not discussed between 11
to 12. These are on-going discussions. Subjects will possibly be discussed
tomorrow again.
QUESTION: What is the programme for tomorrow?
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON: They will meet in the morning.
QUESTION: Is there going to be a joint press conference or statement?
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON: The statement I cannot yet say. If there is
something produced and agreed, we will know only tomorrow. There are no plans
for a joint press conference. We have a briefing by the Foreign Secretary in the
afternoon tomorrow.
QUESTION: What was Pakistan’s response on our concerns on terrorism?
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON: I am not going go into the detailing of the whole
dialogue. What I can say is that considerable time was spent on discussing
terrorism and the External Affairs Minister also underlined the need to fight
this jointly.
QUESTION:
What about the nuclear risk reduction agreement?
OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON: That is part of the discussions on the
non-conventional security CBMs.