India treads softly after Mumbai blasts, talks with Pakistan on

New Delhi is treading cautiously, refraining from making any hasty conclusions about who could be behind Mumbai terrorist attack as the India-Pakistan foreign minister level dialogue is slated to be held in New Delhi on July 26. HT reports.

New Delhi is treading cautiously, refraining from making any hasty conclusions about who could be behind Mumbai terrorist attack as the India-Pakistan foreign minister level dialogue is slated to be held in New Delhi on July 26.

HT Image

Asked whether the blasts were an attempt to derail the India-Pakistan talks later this month, home minister P Chidambaram said in Mumbai that every angle will be probed in the case.

“I do agree that the Indo-Pak talks will be held this month, in ten days from now. We are not ruling out any angle. We will probe every angle,” he said.

The home minister also said that India was living in the “most troubled neighbourhood” as Pakistan and Afghanistan are the “epicenter” of terrorism.

“The investigations into Mumbai serial blasts are on, so we cannot comment on the specifics of it — who did it, how it happened,” said a senior official.

But talking about the terrorism is general, he said “India has made it clear time and again, an atmosphere free of violence is a necessity for talking the bilateral ties forward. That is the general position.”

Both Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani have condemned the blasts in Mumbai.

“President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, the Government and the people of Pakistan, have condemned the blasts in Mumbai and expressed distress on the loss of lives and injuries,” Pakistan foreign office said.

“The President and the Prime Minister have expressed their deepest sympathies to the Indian leadership on the loss of lives, injuries and damage to property in Mumbai,” the statement further said.