India, Pakistan talks Feb 25 in New Delhi

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI - India and Pakistan will hold foreign secretary level talks in New Delhi Feb 25 - for the first time since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s office said in Islamabad Friday.

The decision on the date was taken at a meeting held in the Prime Minister’s House Friday, Pakistan’s official APP news agency reported.

“It was decided that foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries will be held Feb 25 in New Delhi,” APP quoted a statement from the Pakistan PMO.

The meeting, which reviewed a range of issues, including Kashmir, was chaired by the prime minister. It was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Kashmir Committee chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.

Bashir will meet his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao in New Delhi, it said.

However, there was no confirmation from the Indian side about the dates, with the ministry of external affairs officials in New Delhi saying they were yet to receive any formal announcement from Pakistan.

Pakistan has been insisting on a composite dialogue covering all issues including water and Kashmir.

“The Pakistan side should raise all the core issues and press upon India for expeditious resolution through resumption of composite dialogue,” the statement said.

“The prime minister directed Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir that his talks with his Indian counterpart should be result oriented and meaningful,” it added.

The proposed foreign secretary level talks have raised hopes of a thaw in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India suspended its peace process with Pakistan after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks blamed by New Delhi on Pakistan-based terror outfits.

India had earlier initiated the invitation to Pakistan for resuming talks, which have been supported by the US.

But New Delhi says it will focus on terror sanctuaries in Pakistan and ask Islamabad to take effective measures in stop anti-India terrorism emanating from its soil.

India had earlier linked the restoration of peace process between the two warring countries to Pakistan taking action against Lashkar-e-Taiba and its leader Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, who India alleges masterminded the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai which killed 166 people.