India, Pak back to talks in Thimphu

Without making much progress on the 26/11 probe and terrorism, New Delhi will get back to talking table with Pakistan with its ‘step-by-step’ approach in Thimpu.

Without making much progress on the 26/11 probe and terrorism, New Delhi will get back to talking table with Pakistan with its ‘step-by-step’ approach in Thimpu.

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This comes amid indications that India will walk ‘some way’ on Islamabad’s demand for the dialogue format being reminiscent of the ‘components’ of a composite dialogue, but not calling it so.

Though disappointed by the “slow progress”, Pakistan is making in bringing the culprits of Mumbai attack to justice, New Delhi was hoping for some forward before foreign secretary Nirupama Rao meets her counterpart Salman Bashir to hold discussions on February 6. The foreign secretary-level talks will pave way for Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s visit to India sometime in March-April.

New Delhi was hoping to get a response from Islamabad about the clarification it had sought from Pakistan on December 17 regarding Islamabad’s demand for sending a judicial commission it wants to send with regard to the Mumbai attack.

The same missive had also a proposal to send a Judicial Commission from India to Pakistan to examine the accused in the Mumbai attacks and get their voice samples. Despite New Delhi saying that India will get back within a month from the date of Pakistan’s response, there is no word on the matter from across the border.

At the same time, what India brings to the table rings in familiarity. It wants to focus on deliverables in the standard template of ‘step by step’, ‘gradual’ approach. That includes addressing issues related to trade, security and terrorism and cross border confidence building measures.