Terrorism will be a key issue discussed with Qureshi: Krishna

TEHRAN - Before emplaning for New Delhi after attending the Group of Fifteen Summit here, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna on Tuesday told ANI in an interview that during his visit to Pakistan from July 15, terrorism would be one of the important issues covered in talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Krishna’s comment assumes significance in the wake of reports that hundreds of militants are regrouping in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) and waiting to cross the border into India.

He said that Pakistan should take serious note of terrorists regrouping under different names

He further claimed that terrorist groups regroup if one terrorist outfit is banned. Sometimes, a same group changes its name, but its intent remains constant and unchanged, he added.

He said that this should be taken serious note of by Pakistan because it is happening on their soil.

Last week, Krishna said he hoped his proposed visit to Islamabad would help reduce the trust deficit between the two nations.

“I hope that my visit, when I go there and then I certainly would be extending an invitation to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to visit India. So these high-level visits will only act as some kind of panacea to reduce the trust deficit,” he said.

“We can talk to each other with a little more confidence in each other, and that certainly would create the right kind of atmosphere for very productive talks between our two countries,” he added on his way to New Delhi after a three-day visit to Kazakhstan.

Relations between the two Asian neighbours went into a diplomatic freeze after India blamed Pakistan-based militants for the 26/11-Mumbai terror attacks.

The call for resuming talks at the foreign ministers level came from Qureshi on May 11.

Addressing the media then in Islamabad, Qureshi said all issues would be discussed with Krishna, and Islamabad would not hesitate to present its stated positions on all issues bedevilling bilateral ties.

“Don”t expect miracles overnight. It is an uphill task. The two foreign secretaries will meet on the sidelines of the SAARC conference to do the ground work for the foreign ministers meeting which will take place on July 15. I will be visiting New Delhi after the Islamabad meeting at a mutually convenient date for the next round of talks,” he said.

“Recognising that this is a very important engagement and step forward in our bilateral relations, I have decided to undertake a number of steps for preparation, consultations and national consensus building on some very sensitive issues that are outstanding between India and Pakistan,” he added. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)