INDIA: Foreign Minister Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishnasays talks with Pakistan were positive despite failure to ease tensions

Record ID: 1376992

  • Title: INDIA: Foreign Minister Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishnasays talks with Pakistan were positive despite failure to ease tensions
  • Date: 17th July 2010
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (JULY 16, 2010) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) SOMANAHALLI MALLAIAH KRISHNA, INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVING TO ADDRESS MEDIA PERSONS AT NEW DELHI AIRPORT CAMERA CREW AT THE VENUE KRISHNA STANDING AT THE PODIUM MEDIA AT THE VENUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOMANAHALLI MALLAIAH KRISHNA, INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING "Well, I am not going to score debating points over Foreign Minister Qureshi. I would like to concentrate on the serious issues. The fact of the matter is that we did discuss many issues which are of great concern to both of us, both the countries, and I think we have made some headway." MEDIA AT THE VENUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOMANAHALLI MALLAIAH KRISHNA, INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING "I would consider that the fact of the matter that I went to Islamabad, we talked about some of the burning issues that confront the two countries, and other issues that confront our two countries were discussed in great detail. To that extent, I think we have contributed in a manner where the trust deficit is getting reduced." NIRUPAMA RAO, INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY, SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOMANAHALLI MALLAIAH KRISHNA, INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING "We did not insist on a timeline. We told them that terror is the biggest obstacle in normalising relations between India and Pakistan. As long as this is not met, all the other efforts would be futile." MEDIA AT THE VENUE REPORTERS JOTTING DOWN NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOMANAHALLI MALLAIAH KRISHNA, INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING "Well, India was fully prepared. Our mandate was very clear and there was no ambiguity. As External Affairs (Foreign) Minister of this country leading these talks, I confined myself to the mandate which was given to me and I am quite satisfied with the talks." CAMERA CREWS AT THE VENUE
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2010 00:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA661KA2THHE1DJCPGYHA3UY1Q7
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, India's Foreign Minister, expresses satisfaction at bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while emphasising that elimination of radical militant groups is crucial to restore peace and normalcy in bilateral relations.
    India's Foreign Minister, Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna expressed hope for a resumption of dialogue with Pakistan despite the failure of the two countries to reach agreement on any concrete measures that might soothe tensions between them Krishna was speaking on his arrival in New Delhi from Islamabad on Friday (July 16). He said the talks had greatly reduced the trust deficit between the two neighbouring countries.
    Krishna went to Islamabad on July 14 on a three-day state visit and held talks with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on July 15 in an effort to build mutual trust between the two countries in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
    Immediately after the latest round of talks the pair openly sparred at a joint news conference, underscoring the air of mistrust between the rival who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947 But they have agreed to hold more talks and Krishna, playing down the differences between them, said: "Well, I am not going to score debating points over Foreign Minister Qureshi. I would like to concentrate on the serious issues. The fact of the matter is that we did discuss many issues which are of great concern to both of us, both the countries, and I think we have made some headway," said Krishna.
    Responding to a reporter's query about widening mistrust between the two nations, Krishna said that his visit stood testimony to the fact that India wanted peaceful ties with Pakistan.
    "I would consider that the fact of the matter that I went to Islamabad, we talked about some of the burning issues that confront the two countries, and other issues that confront our two countries were discussed in great detail. To that extent, I think we have contributed in a manner where the trust deficit is getting reduced," added Krishna.
    He also reiterated India's call for Pakistan to expedite investigations and trial of the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.
    Insisting that India remained tough on militancy and extremism in the subcontinent, Krishna added that radical groups in Pakistan would have to be eliminated for ensuring a stable bilateral relationship.
    "We did not insist on a timeline. We told them that terror is the biggest obstacle in normalising relations between India and Pakistan. As long as this is not met, all the other efforts would be futile," observed Krishna.
    He also refused to comment on the statement made by Qureshi in Islamabad, in which he had alleged that India was 'unprepared' with a limited mandate for the talks.
    "Well, India was fully prepared. Our mandate was very clear and there was no ambiguity. As External Affairs (Foreign) Minister of this country leading these talks, I confined myself to the mandate which was given to me and I am quite satisfied with the talks," added Krishna.
    The Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers met for over six hours on July 15, but remained poles apart on resolving issues of mutual concern.
    India has accused Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group and its chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed of being behind the attack in Mumbai.
    Pakistan says it wants settlement of its dispute with India over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, the crux of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed rivals that triggered two of their three wars.
    But both have come under pressure from the United States, which says their tensions are being played out in Afghanistan - hampering peace efforts there.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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