Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Foreign ministers set for India-Pakistan talks

The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan are due to hold talks in Delhi, the first such meeting between the two nuclear rivals in a year.
The delegation from Pakistan is led by Hina Rabbani Khar, its newly appointed and first ever female foreign minister.
The meeting comes five months after the South Asian neighbours resumed bilateral discussions.
Talks were suspended after the 2008 Mumbai (Bombay) attacks which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants.
But earlier this year, leaders vowed to resume their dialogue.
Correspondents say the talks are unlikely to throw up any major policy statements, but they will be another step in improving relations between the neighbours.
Ms Khar, 34, was appointed only last week as Pakistan's foreign minister. Her meeting with Indian counterpart SM Krishna will be keenly watched.
'Lessons from history' Arriving in India on Tuesday, Ms Khar said both countries "would have learnt lessons from history without being burdened by it".
Earlier, she told reporters in Lahore that it was "in the interests of Pakistan that the dialogue should be result-oriented".
"We should be positive in our engagement, and we are."
Since February, Indian and Pakistani officials have met to discuss a range of issues in an attempt to find ways to build trust and promote peace.
Last month, the foreign secretaries of the two countries held two days of talks where they agreed to discuss new nuclear confidence-building measures.
India has said it is "ready to discuss all issues with an open mind", and will push for justice for victims of the Mumbai attacks.
Even before the formal talks got underway, Ms Khar caused a flutter by meeting Kashmiri separatist leaders in Delhi on Tuesday.
Pakistan will be eager to raise the contentious issue of disputed Kashmir.
The Himalayan region is claimed by both India and Pakistan in its entirety, but has been divided since 1948. It has been the cause of two wars between the countries.
There remains a huge amount of mistrust between the nations but, analysts say, for now it seems both governments appear committed to improving relations.

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