India open to talks with Pakistan: Krishna

LONDON - India on Wednesday said that it has no problem in holding talks with Pakistan, even if it is bilateral in nature and goes beyond the ambit of Thursday’s conference on Afghanistan.

Interacting with media, External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna said: “Well, I will be delighted, will be very happy to meet my Pakistani counterpart if the occasion arises.”

Asked if he is ready to hold bilateral talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, he replied: “Yes, oh why not.”

When he was further asked, if it could be outside the orbit of Afghanistan, he replied: “Well I’m ready for the meeting.”

Dialogue between India and Pakistan has remained suspended since the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai in which nearly 170 people were killed including many foreigners.

While Pakistan has repeatedly called for a resumption of dialogue, India has said that no talks were possible till Islamabad brings the perpetrators of the attack to justice and ensures a complete dismantling of the terror network allegedly operating from its soil.

Leaders of the two governments, at the Prime Ministerial level and ministerial level, have met abroad on the sidelines of multi-lateral events and discussed issues of importance, including ways to restart possible dialogue. So far, nothing concrete has emerged. By Cynthia Chandran (ANI)