The Hindu – Guarded optimism as India, Pakistan hold talks today

A day before Krishna’s arrival, Islamabad provided consular access to Sarabjit Singh

Anita Joshua

Islamabad, 7 September 2012. Guarded optimism was the dominant mood here on Friday as India and Pakistan prepared for the foreign ministerial engagement on Saturday, capping the second round of the resumed dialogue process which till date has had little to show by way of results on the ground except a concerted effort on both sides to avoid hostile rhetoric.

But the improved atmospherics in which these talks are taking place is itself being flagged as an improvement in a relationship that is evolving on a slow burn mode; inching forward to dismantle the mechanisms of distrust built over six decades.

Though both Foreign Ministers were careful enough not to raise expectations in their interactions with the media, Interior Minister Rehman Malik in the evening announced that the visa agreement would be signed on Saturday. As of now, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna is scheduled to go to the Interior Ministry on Saturday to sign the agreement.

Ahead of the engagement, Pakistan also facilitated consular access to Sarabjit Singh, death row inmate in Punjab’s Kot Lakpat Jail. Amid reports suggesting that his life was under threat on the jail premises, he was granted consular access on Thursday; a day ahead of Mr. Krishna’s arrival. During his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, the Minister urged him to consider Sarabjit Singh’s mercy petition.

Another agreement on the cards pertains to cross-Line of Control confidence building measures. These include facilitating cross-LoC trade and travel, multiple entry permits, strengthening infrastructure in both Kashmirs, better communication links between the two sides and group tourism permits across the LoC.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, in a series of interactions with the media, stressed the need for India to have a more practical approach vis-à-vis the progress of the Mumbai terror attacks case trial here as the matter was now in court. And, to persistent references to the Mumbai terror attack trial, she flagged the Samjhauta Express blast issue, trying to once again draw a similarity between the two.

Maintaining that Pakistan had a region-first approach in foreign relations, she said a better and deeper relationship would eventually lead the two countries to ways and means to resolve all bilateral disputes, including the status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Upon arrival, Mr. Krishna reiterated India’s desire to see a stable and prosperous Pakistan living in peace with itself and the world. “That would be in the best interest of everyone,” he said. “We are committed to finding solutions for all issues that have beset our relationship through peaceful bilateral dialogue, while we look to the future where our two countries are able to live together in an atmosphere of friendliness and all-round cooperation, free from terror and violence.”

Mr. Krishna also called on Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf and met leaders of all constituents of the ruling coalition. During the meeting with the premier, both sides acknowledged that no country could afford to choose its neighbours and peaceful coexistence was the only option.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3870245.ece

The Asian Age – ‘India does not expect big solutions to problems with Pakistan’

New Delhi, 25 June 2012. Ahead of the foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan, India on Monday said it did not expect ‘big solutions’ to six-decade-old problems at a time when that country is going through ‘many upheavals’ and needed space to settle down.

“These problems have been there for the last 60 years and you do not expect big solutions in six days or six weeks or in six months,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said when asked about little progress made in the peace talks with Pakistan.

He underlined the need to keep up the dialogue process with Pakistan which was going through many upheavals.

“I think the whole thrust is to keep Pakistan engaged and keep talking to them. They are also going through many upheavals in that country. So we will have to provide space for them to settle down and India which is a country which is stable and growing, will have to think,” he said. Asked whether India would take up the issue of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, Krishna said the two countries need to make sincere efforts to live as good neighbours.

“Things are getting normalised with Pakistan. It is our fond hope that a sincere effort from both countries to live as good neighbours has to be adopted. India has always been willing to do that. I hope that Pakistan will respond,” he said.

Krishna was apparently referring to the situation in Pakistan where the Supreme Court had disqualified the then Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as member of the National Assembly citing his conviction in a contempt of court case.

Krishna also congratulated the Delhi Police for arresting a key suspect allegedly involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack but refrained from saying whether the issue would be taken up with Pakistan.

“The Delhi Police has done a magnificent job. I am sure that the investigations will take place and we will wait till the investigations,” he told reporters here.

Sayed Zabiuddin alias Abu Hamza, the Hindi tutor of 10 terrorists who carried out the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai, was arrested from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) last week.

Asked whether India would raise the issue of Zabiuddin’s arrest with Pakistan, Krishna said: “Let the Delhi Police first go through investigations and then they will send a report to the government and then we will see what appropriate follow up action can be taken.”

On Bangladesh High Commissioner Ahmed Tariq Karim’s remark that Pakistan Army’s ‘selfish corporate’ interest may spark off a nuclear conflict with India, Krishna merely said, “Nuclear confrontation is unthinkable”. (PTI)

http://www.asianage.com/india/india-does-not-expect-big-solutions-problems-pak-813

The Hindu – Despite our handing over dossier, Pakistan has not acted: Krishna

Special Correspondent

Bangalore, 6 April 2012. Ahead of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to India on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Friday said though New Delhi gave details to Islamabad of the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the neighbouring country chose not to act.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram provided to Pakistan a dossier containing details of Saeed’s involvement in the planning and execution of the 2008 attacks, Mr. Krishna told reporters here.

The U.S. has announced a $10-million bounty on Saeed’s head and India has welcomed it.

Asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s statement that the Saeed matter was an “internal issue” and if there was any concrete proof against him, then it should be provided to his country, Mr. Krishna said: “So no amount of denial would exonerate them unless there is a judicial inquiry into the whole episode whereby responsibilities can be fixed.

But unfortunately, Pakistan had not thought it proper to investigate this.”

Asked whether the Saeed issue would figure during a lunch to be hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in honour of Mr. Zardari, Mr. Krishna said major bilateral issues would be discussed during the talks. “This is a private visit by President Zardari to India and he is coming on a religious mission to Ajmer and I do not know whether they will have enough time to go into greater details,” he noted.

Ties between the two countries had been looking up in the last couple of years although a number of issues were yet to be resolved, he said.

On Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s visit to India last year, he said she had stated that there was a “change in mindset” in Pakistan towards India.

On China’s objection to India exploration for oil in the disputed areas in the South China Sea, Mr. Krishna said, “South China Sea is the property of the world. The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) and China had accepted it.”

UK decision

Mr. Krishna said he would seek details of the British government’s decision to discontinue a provision that allowed Indian students to work in the U.K. for two years after completion of their courses as part of drive to cut immigration. “I have asked the High Commissioner to brief me on the issue,” he said.

Under the Tier 1 (post-study work) route, Indian and other non-EU students were able to work for two years in the U.K. after completing their university courses. This route was closed from Friday.

This was popular among self-financing Indian students who sought to recover some of the study expenses by working for two years.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3287322.ece?homepage=true

The Asian Age – Sonia turns 66, Congress workers throng house

Asian Age Corespondent

New Delhi, 10 December 2011. Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday turned 66. The first among those who wished her was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Dr Singh called her up on the phone and sent a bouquet to her.   Later in the day party leaders and workers thronged her official residence to celebrate the occasion.

Special prayers were offered at a mobile temple outside Mrs Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence and enthusiastic Congress workers cut huge cakes and distributed it to all gathered there.

A number of party leaders, including Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Reddy, several Union ministers, including external affairs minister S.M. Krishna, members of Parliament K. Keshava Rao, K.S. Rao, Sudarshan Natchiappan and Jammu and Kashmir state Congress chief Saifuddin Soz visited Mrs Gandhi’s residence and greeted her.

A group of party workers had installed a Ganesha idol on a mini-truck and were seen offering prayers for a long and healthy life for the Congress party president.

Mrs Gandhi, however, had appealed to party workers not to take a lot of trouble and spend money to come all the way to Delhi from far off places to greet her.

Despite the appeal, party workers gathered at Mrs Gandhi’s residence since early morning beating drums and taking out processions to celebrate her birthday.

http://www.asianage.com/india/sonia-turns-66-cong-workers-throng-house-230