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The Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India have begun their two days of talks in Islamabad on Thursday, June 23, 2011. During the dialogue, terrorism, intelligence sharing and “all issues that bug the bilateral relationship” will be taken up.
As the two sides meet after Osama bin Laden’s killing in Abottabad, the talks centre on the security issues with a likely emphasis on ensuring improved intelligence sharing to weed out the common enemy.
While Islamabad is likely to raise the issue of the slow pace of implementation of understanding on intelligence sharing by India, New Delhi is also expected to raise the issue of the slow pace of ongoing Mumbai terror case trial in Pakistan.
On M arch 28-29, 2011; the Interior/Home Secretaries of the two countries had met in New Delhi. Both sides had agreed to remain engaged and set up a Hotline between the Home Secretary of India and Interior Secretary of Pakistan to facilitate real time information sharing with respect to terrorist threats.
• Both sides had also reiterated their commitment to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed the need to bring those responsible for such crimes to justice.
• Pakistan had provided updates on the ongoing trial and investigation in Pakistan on the Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan had conveyed its readiness, in principle, based upon the principle of comity and reciprocity, to entertain a Commission from India with respect to investigations. India had provided information on the on-going Samjhautha Express blast case investigation.
• Both sides noted and welcomed the release of prisoners and fishermen by each other since the last round of talks. The group will submit its report to the Home/Interior Secretaries before the next round of Talks.
• This was followed by Secretary level talks to boost bilateral trade. Both sides had resolved to boost business from the current level of about $2 billion to $6.5 billion.
• The joint statement of the 5th round of talks on commercial and economic cooperation provided a clear roadmap for enhancing trade and economic relations between the two countries.
• Pakistan recognised that grant of Most Favorite Nation (M FN) status to India would help in expanding the bilateral trade relations whereas both the countries agreed to remove the Non-Tariff Barriers and all other restrictive practices which hamper bilateral trade, according to joint statement of 5th round of talks.
• Besides, enhancing trade volume on traditional routes, both the countries had also remained determined to promote intra-Kashmir trade through Line of Control (LoC) as per the desire of Kashmiris.
• In May, the Defence Secretaries of the two countries met in New Delhi and discussed the 27 year old Siachen dispute issue in two day’s of deliberations. But they could not narrow down differences. Nevertheless they had agreed to meet again for the 13th round of talks in Islamabad ‘at a mutually convenient date’ to discuss the issues.
• Pakistan in fact presented a ‘non-paper’ to India on what it thinks about the Siachen dispute. India would respond to the non-paper only after studying it, as the document was handed over by the Pakistan delegation only at the end of the two-day meeting.
