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India has proposed February 18 and 25 to Pakistan as the dates for foreign secretary-level talks as part of a "practical and pragmatic" approach to seek redressal of its core concern of cross-border terrorism but warns that there will be a huge setback if a 26/11-type terror attack is repeated.
India underlined that the proposed foreign secretary-level talks would not mean resumption of composite dialogue even though it is ready to discuss whatever issue Pakistan raises, including Balochistan, as it wants to deal with the situation in a "mature" and "confident" manner. From the Indian side, cross-border terrorism and infiltration, which witnessed a marked increase last year, will be the "centre-piece" of the proposed meeting. Under the composite dialogue eight issues including Jammu and Kashmir and terrorism were discussed in four rounds of talks before it was "paused" in November 2008 in the wake of Mumbai attacks.
The foreign secretary-level talks "are not composite dialogue but just dialogue" to "unlock" the channels of communication frozen since 26/11 attacks, sources said on Sunday. The offer of talks is a "practical and pragmatic approach" to seek redressal of India's concerns with regard to cross-border terrorism, the sources said, adding the intention is to convey its point of view directly to the Pakistani establishment rather than "firing salvos".
In the ice-breaking decision, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has invited her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir to New Delhi for talks and proposed February 18 and 25 for the date for the same. While offering foreign secretary-level talks as an
"incremental step", India has made it clear that there cannot be any "meaningful dialogue" or "normalisation" of relations until its prime concern of cross-border terrorism is addressed by Pakistan.
Rejecting Pakistan's contention that it would not be able to prevent a repeat of 26/11, the sources said that if such an
incident takes place again, there will be a "huge setback" to the efforts to normalise relations. Sources here underlined that meaningful dialogue cannot take place in an environment of terror or even the threat of terror and put the onus on Pakistan government to address these issues.
"Pakistan must take all necessary steps to prevent any incident like Mumbai attacks," the sources said. In this regard, India highlights its concern over the February 4 joint public meeting in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir of various terror groups, which was addressed by Hafiz Saeed, chief of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah and talked about jihad against India.India's disappointment over Pakistan's inaction over the public provocative speeches will be put across the foreign secretary talks. India emphasises that the Pakistan government cannot throw its hands up on this and those "in-charge" or "taking
decisions" in Pakistan will have to think about these aspects. "But we need to talk to each other, rather than at each
other," the sources said. However, for any meaningful talks, Pakistan "will have to be conscious and sensitive" to India's
concerns and crack down on terror groups and individuals.
In response to India's proposal for talks, Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik met Nirupama Rao on Thursday to know
what would be the agenda and was told that "difficulties" like terrorism would be the issue to be discussed. There was"nothing contentious" during the 45-minute meeting between Rao and Malik, the sources said, adding Pakistan is expected to respond to India's offer in a couple of days. Rejecting the contention that timing for the talks was premature, the sources noted that Pakistan had taken "some steps" to prosecute seven of those involved in 26/11 attacks but underlines that the process has to be taken to logical conclusion in terms of punishing them and unveiling the entire conspiracy.
India also expects Pakistan to arrest Hafiz Saeed and 13 others, who were also involved in the Mumbai attacks. There is need to build "trust and confidence" in the "complex relations", they said. Insisting that the proposal to hold talks after 14-month gap was "dictated" by India itself without anybody else suggesting it, they said it reflects the country's "maturity"
and "confidence" to deal with issues that concern it."We have to give peace a chance", the sources said while noting India was not entering talks with any "illusions". On whether the talks between the foreign secretaries could lead to comprehensive dialogue on identified outstanding issues or India would like to wait till prosecution in 26/11 is taken to logical end, the government here is not willing to pre-judge such aspects.
With regard to 26/11, India continues to believe that some elements in Pakistani establishment were "aware" or "privy" to plans of attack, particularly since Lashkar-e Tayiba has been used as an instrument of state policy, which is now recoiling on Pakistan itself. Justifying the decision to have talks, the sources said India had never shut the door for dialogue while always maintaining that any meaningful dialogue cannot take place till its concerns on terrorism are addressed by Pakistan.
The sources revealed that the foreign secretary had been in touch with her Pakistani counterpart, talking over phone, even before she invited him to Delhi for talks about a week back, discussing "how to unlock" the process of engagement. "Relations between countries never remain "static" but these are dynamic... We can't completely erase what makes relations exist between neighbours," they said. "Clearly the infrastructure of terror continues to exist in Pakistan but we can't ignore the steps Pakistan has taken although it has not taken all steps," the sources said.
"Dialogue is the only way forward to seek redressal to our concerns... Engaging Pakistan is the only way forward," they said, adding the FS-level talks were intended to deal with various aspects of the relationship like people-to-people contacts, confidence building, trade and consular access. Refusing to accept that India had changed stance and mellowed down, the sources said absence of communication had not helped Pakistan and the neighbour needed to introspect. Expressing India's readiness to "listen" if Pakistan has "any concerns" on Balochistan, the sources said India need not be scared of it as it has done "nothing untoward" anywhere in Pakistan.