Jun 25, 2011

Joint Statement on Meeting between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan

June 24, 2011

Under the resumed dialogue process, the Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India met in Islamabad, on 23-24 June 2011 for bilateral talks on Peace and Security including CBMs, Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of friendly exchanges. Three sessions of talks were held.

2. The talks were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere. Both sides reiterated their intention to carry forward the dialogue process in a constructive and purposeful manner.

3. The issues of Peace and Security, including CBMs, were discussed in a comprehensive manner. Both sides emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue to promote mutual understanding.

4. They noted the ongoing implementation of various Nuclear and Conventional CBMs. They also decided to convene separate Expert level meetings on Nuclear and Conventional CBMs to discuss implementation and strengthening of existing arrangements and to consider additional measures, which are mutually acceptable, to build trust and confidence and promote peace and security. The dates for the Expert level meetings will be determined through diplomatic channels.

5. The Foreign Secretaries noted that both countries recognize that terrorism poses a continuing threat to peace and security and they reiterated the firm and undiluted commitment of the two countries to fight and eliminate this scourge in all its forms and manifestations. They agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism.

6. The Foreign Secretaries exchanged views on the issue of Jammu & Kashmir and agreed to continue discussions in a purposeful and forward looking manner with the view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences.

7. Both sides agreed to convene a meeting of the Working Group on Cross-LoC CBMs to recommend measures for strengthening and streamlining the existing trade and travel arrangements across the LoC and propose modalities for introducing additional Cross-LoC CBMs. The Working Group will meet in July 2011.

8. Both sides agreed to the need for promoting friendly exchanges between the two countries. They noted with satisfaction the progress made towards finalization of the Visa Agreement which will help liberalize the visa regime and facilitate people-to-people, business-to-business and sports contacts.

9. The two sides also discussed measures for promoting cooperation in various fields including, facilitating visits to religious shrines, media exchanges, holding of sports tournaments and cessation of hostile propaganda against each other.

10. The Foreign Secretaries agreed that people of the two countries are at the heart of the relationship and that humanitarian issues should be accorded priority and treated with sensitivity.

11. The Foreign Secretary of India called on the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar.

12. The Foreign Secretaries will meet again in New Delhi, on a date to be decided through diplomatic channels, to prepare for the meeting of the Foreign/External Affairs Ministers in New Delhi in July 2011.

Islamabad
June 24, 2011

Opening statement by FS at Joint Press Conference in Islamabad

June 24, 2011

Over the last one and a half days, the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Mr. Salman Bashir and I have had discussions on a wide range of issues.

A joint statement has been issued at the conclusion of our talks and I am sure all of you have received it.

In our discussions, we were guided by the vision of our two Prime Ministers to build trust and confidence by discussing various issues in an open and constructive spirit and in a forward looking manner.

We have been fully conscious of the complexities of our relationship and the consequent need to take incremental steps to promote mutual confidence and understanding.

In doing this, we are inspired by our goal of the eventual normalization of the India-Pakistan relationship and the resolution of outstanding issues through peaceful, serious and sustained, bilateral dialogue.

The shadow of the gun and the violence it has unleashed has caused untold sufferings on our people in these years past. This needs to end.

The ideology of military conflict should have no place in the paradigm of our relationship of the 21st century. Instead, this relationship should be characterized by the vocabulary of peace, all round co-operation in the interest of our people, growing trade and economic interaction, as well as, people to people contacts – and all this, let me emphasize, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence.

The talks we have held this time were not an event in isolation, but part of a dialogue process, which aims at building greater trust between us.

We also took this opportunity to exchange views on preparations for the meeting of our Ministers of External/Foreign Affairs in New Delhi next month.

This has been a positive meeting, and I thank Foreign Secretary Bashir and his colleagues for what has been a constructive and substantive discussions.

Statement by Foreign Secretary on arrival in Pakistan

June 23, 2011

I am very pleased to be in Pakistan on the invitation of my distinguished colleague, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir. This is an important visit as it marks the penultimate leg of the resumed dialogue process before the visit of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan to India by July 2011.

I bring with me the best wishes of the people and Government of India for the people and Government of Pakistan. We wish to see a stable, peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.

During my stay in Islamabad, I am looking forward to my meetings with Foreign Secretary Bashir. We hope to discuss the issues that have been mandated to us by our leadership, namely Peace & Security, including CBMs; Jammu & Kashmir and Promotion of Friendly Exchanges.

I have come to Pakistan with an open mind and a constructive spirit in order to work towards building trust and confidence in our relationship and thereby leading to an eventual normalization of relations for the well being and prosperity of our two peoples.

Questions & Answers Session: After Joint Statements


Sumaira Khan: (Express 24/7)

Q:     Thank you so much, this is Sumaira Khan from Express 24/7. My question is to both Excellencies. Can you please highlight the specifics of the discussions? I am asking this with regard to a move towards the solution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. What was specifically discussed during these three rounds of talks? Thank you.

Foreign Secretary Bashir: I think first of all you ought to recognize that we have started again a very substantive process which has various components. Of course the Foreign Secretaries are entrusted with dealing the issue of Jammu and Kashmir as well as peace and security, CBMs and now also friendly exchanges. On the Kashmir Issue we have had deep conversations. This is a process as you would note that we would like to take forward. Of course, there are well known positions of both countries on this issue but nonetheless we have agreed to continue to further discuss matters specifically relating to Jammu and Kashmir with a view to finding common ground. I think the key point here is carrying forward the engagement and making it more purposeful. But that's not all. I think the decision to reconvene the Working Group on LoCs, CBMs on the issue of facilitating further the travel and trade arrangements is all directed to take this process forward with a view to creating more comfort and relief for the Kashmiri people.

Foreign Secretary Rao: I think we have to build peace and reconciliation step by step. As I mentioned in my earlier remarks, we must do away with the shadow of the gun and extremist violence because it is only in an atmosphere free of violence that we can discuss the resolution of such a complex issue. The convening of the LOC CBMs Working Group, I think, is a very important step because I have always maintained that people are at the heart of our relationship and we must help the people of Jammu and Kashmir to connect with each other, to trade, to travel more easily and essentially I think this is the process we need to build on, to strengthen, to sustain. And I think the benefits of that process will be there for all of us to see as time goes by.

Saurav Shukla: (Headlines Today)

Q:     Good Evening. My question is from both the Foreign Secretaries. What about 26/11. Madam Secretary, did you talk about 26/11 terror attacks because there continues to be a tardy progress on the investigations into this issue. Have you raised this with Mr. Bashir? And Mr. Bashir have you changed your mind about India's evidence as just being a piece of literature?

Foreign Secretary Rao: Let me say on the issue of 26/11 which was obviously of critical importance for us. We have already had very useful discussion between the Home and Interior Secretaries of the two countries. That meeting has had very good outcomes. And I did follow up on those discussions. We did talk about matters relating to the 26/11 trial and the pending issues relating to it. And we had good discussions on this matter. I continued to underline and emphasize India's concern that we must have satisfactory closure because that will enable us to move on with the process of normalization.

Foreign Secretary Bashir: As the Indian FS has just said this is a matter that has been the subject of talks and engagement between our respective departments i.e. the Interior Ministry and the Home Department of Government of India. I think there has been two way communication between them and I think that the spirit prevails and these communications, we hope, will result in something that is useful. Having said that, I would like to add that while we do understand the concerns in India about Mumbai Incident, we hope and expect that this issue in a generic sense i.e., the issue of terrorism requires objectivity; requires to be addressed in a collaborative approach. I believe that has been the spirit of the engagement between our respective departments. And the Foreign Secretaries agree that it was necessary. Terrorism poses a threat to the two countries and to civilized societies. It must be eliminated. I think that certainly is the sense and the purpose in which this and other related issues were discussed.

Afzal Bajwa: (Online)

Q:     I will be obliged if the worthy Foreign Secretaries, would like to say something about the progress made in the Samjhota express incident?

Foreign Secretary Rao: Well let me say on the Samjhota Train blast issue, this also formed the subject matter of discussion between the Home Secretary of India and the Interior Secretary of Pakistan when they met a few months ago. And we have stated very clearly that once the investigation is completed, we will share the outcomes with the Government of Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Bashir: That certainly is the case. All such matters which relate to the two incidents which are in the terror category are being dealt with by the Interior and Home Secretaries level engagement. I think that is a positive development as far as I can see.

Archis Mohan: (Telegraph)

Q:     This is to both of you. Can you please say something about the specifics as regards to the CBMs. Whether you have agreed to open new trading points? Whether there are chances of increasing the frequency of the bus service?  And what are the specifics for the liberalization of Visa regime?

Foreign Secretary Rao: Well all these ideas were discussed in our meeting. And as the Joint Statement has stated there will be a meeting of the Cross LOC CBMs Working Group very shortly, before the visit of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan to India. All these issues that you have referred to including the increase in the number of trading days, the issuance of travel permits, making travel easier, banking facilities, the bus transportation links including road connectivity form the part of Cross LoC CBMs. And they are very much on the agenda of discussion.

[Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/indo-pak-talks-transcript-of-joint-press-briefing-114616&cp]