Type: Parliament Questions and Answers

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan were held in the recent past;
(b) if so, the details of the various issues discussed during the said meeting;
(c) the details of the issues on which Secretaries of both the countries agreed upon;
(d) whether issues of nexus between Pakistan’s ISI and perpetrators of 26/11 attacks were also raised by Indian delegates;
(e) if so, the details in this regard; and
(f) the reaction of Foreign Secretary of Pakistan thereto?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) to (f) In pursuance of the mandate given by the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, following their meeting in Thimphu in April, 2010 and the meeting of the Minister of External Affairs of India and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan in Islamabad in July, 2010, the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan met in Thimphu on February 6, 2011, to chart the way forward in India-Pakistan relations. The Foreign Secretaries agreed on the need for a constructive dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues. The two sides agreed on the following:

(i) They agreed to resume dialogue on all issues following the spirit of the Thimphu meeting between the two Prime Ministers.
(ii) The Foreign Minister of Pakistan will visit India by July 2011 to review progress in the dialogue process with his counterpart. This will be preceded by a meeting of the two Foreign Secretaries.

(iii) They agreed that prior to the visit of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, meetings at the level of respective Secretaries will be convened on Counter-terrorism (including progress on Mumbai trial); Humanitarian issues; Peace & Security, including CBMs; Jammu & Kashmir; promotion of friendly exchanges; Siachen; Economic issues; Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project; and Sir Creek (at the level of Additional Secretaries/Surveyors General).

The Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India also met in Islamabad on June 23-24, 2011 for bilateral talks on Peace and Security including CBMs, Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of friendly exchanges. The talks were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere. Both sides reiterated their intention to carry forward the dialogue process in a constructive and purposeful manner. Both sides emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue to promote mutual understanding. The Foreign Secretaries noted that both countries recognize that terrorism poses a continuing threat to peace and security and they reiterated the firm and undiluted commitment of the two countries to fight and eliminate this scourge in all its forms and manifestations. They agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism.

The Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan met again on July 26, 2011 in New Delhi prior to the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries. They reviewed the progress in the talks on various subjects under the resumed dialogue process and preparation for the Ministerial level meeting held on July 27, 2011.
http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=220117958.

Pakistan
South Asia