Political issues defer Indo-Pak peace talks

The India-Pakistan foreign minister-level talks have been deferred, allowing the two countries some breathing space to deal with recent political developments on both sides.

The India-Pakistan foreign minister-level talks have been deferred, allowing the two countries some breathing space to deal with recent political developments on both sides.

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New Delhi insists the jumbled dates and sequences with regard to the talks were mere "scheduling issues" that have got nothing to with the "substance" of the dialogue. External affairs minister SM Krishna is now looking at the August-September window to revive talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Hina Rabbani Khar, in Islamabad, and take the peace process to its next level.

In the earlier schedule, the proposed foreign ministers' talk was clashing with the presidential election on July 19. Parliament sessions are set to begin soon after, on July 22, and Krishna preferred to avoid travelling at such a time.

"Do not think that the scheduling issue is reflective of substantive problems. There are none," said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson, ministry of external affairs. Meanwhile, the foreign secretary-level talks - meant to discuss Kashmir, security and other issues - have been advanced from June 29 to July 4-5.

This change was brought about in the wake of political upheavals in the neighbouring country. Yusuf Raza Gilani, with whom PM Manmohan Singh shares a good rapport, is no longer in the saddle.

Meanwhile, reacting to Abul Jundal's arrest, a Pakistan high commission spokeperson in Delhi said the country has been in the forefront of the campaign against terror.