Indian stance on talks not encouraging, US told

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, all impressed upon US Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, in their separate meetings, how vital it was for New Delhi to remain engaged in the dialogue process.

“Pakistan is committed to peace in the region and in this context the government is making sincere efforts for the resumption of the Composite Dialogue process with India but regretfully, the vibes emanating from the other side have not been encouraging,” Gilani was quoted by his secretariat as saying.

Holbrooke was clearly told that relations between India and Pakistan should not become hostage to the activities of terrorists who were the common enemy. Gilani stressed upon the need that for lasting peace in the region, both the countries must address the core issues, including Kashmir and water disputes.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, who heads for New Delhi on February 25 to initiate a dialogue with his Indian counterpart, is also disappointed by public posturing by New Delhi. In his meeting with Holbrooke at the Foreign Office, the foreign secretary emphasised that he was looking forward to a meeting with his counterpart in New Delhi on February 25 with an open mind.

Nawaz Sharif told the US official, who called on him, that “instead of a one-off meeting, the two countries should resume the Composite Dialogue process,” according to a statement. Sharif also dwelt at length on the growing concern in Pakistan over India’s efforts to divert and deny Pakistan its rightful share of water from rivers allocated to her under the Indus Water Basin Treaty.

There was good news for Pakistan with regard to the reimbursement of the Coalition Support Funds. Holbrooke said irritants like visa issues had been removed and promised to fast track release of funds approved under the Kerry-Lugar Bill.

Gilani impressed upon the envoy the importance of scheduling a high-level strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the US expeditiously, so that all agreed components could be discussed during the first half of 2010. He particularly stressed the need for fast tracking of dialogue on the energy sector to mitigate the power shortage in the country.

Holbrooke, who had arrived from Afghanistan, in his meetings brought the leadership up-to-date about US and Isaf’s “Operation Mushtarik” in Helmand. Gilani expressed the hope that Pakistan’s concerns on account of spillover of refugees and militants from Helmand into Balochistan and the NWFP will be kept in view.

The president shared the concerns of the people of Pakistan about Dr Aafia Siddiqui. He said that while Pakistan would provide its legal assistance as the case passes through subsequent stages in the judicial system, the US government may look at the possibility of her repatriation to Pakistan under the Prisoners Exchange Agreement.

End.