While the MEA officials were understandably tight-lipped about the talks today, sources indicate that Indian officials shared evidence of Pakistani involvement in the Delhi and Varanasi blasts and the terror suspects in Mysore. However, since the chargesheets in the Malegaon and Mumbai blasts are yet to be filed, no evidence on these was presented. Sources indicate that Indian hopes from the joint-terrorism mechanism are "not high" but the talks so far have been marked by a strong emphasis by India on the importance it attaches to Pakistan controlling its jehadis. As was expected, there was an almost-scripted replay of Indian officials presenting evidence, that included intercepts and confessions, while their Pakistani counterparts repeating their age-old position that Islamabad does not support terrorism against India, and adding the recent charge of Indian involvement in the Balochistan insurgency.
Full text of the official briefing
Navtej Sarna: This is a very brief factual update on the talks today. As you know the Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan began this morning and they are continuing tomorrow. So, it would not be correct at this stage to go into too many details.
A very extensive discussion was held this morning between the two delegations led by the respective Foreign Secretaries. The discussion carried on over a working lunch. As you know, normally the Foreign Secretary level discussions are an occasion to review the composite dialogue process and that was done. This was a meeting to resume the composite dialogue, so to speak, which had not been held after the Mumbai blasts.
Part of the discussions naturally were focused on the declaration that was agreed to between Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Musharraf in Havana, the follow-up action being taken thereafter. The two sides also discussed the menace of terrorism and the proposed anti-terror mechanism under the Declaration.
They also discussed J & K which is normally discussed when Foreign Secretaries meet as part of the composite dialogue. As part of that, they discussed the confidence-building measures, in particular the cross-LOC confidence-building measures that had been proposed and were partially implemented.
The status of several other confidence-building measures which have been on the table was reviewed with the objective of pushing them forward to an early implementation. Other issues of bilateral relations which have been implemented in part or been constantly under review such as travel, such as the situation regarding civilian prisoners, fishermen, other CBMs dealing with non-conventional and conventional security issues, were discussed.
Economic and commercial relations between the two countries came up for discussion. As I said, this meeting will resume tomorrow and we will have much more details for you thereafter.
In the afternoon at about 4:30, the Pakistan Foreign Secretary and members of his delegation called on the External Affairs Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. The call lasted for about half an hour. The External Affairs Minister reviewed the discussions held by the two Foreign Secretaries and gave his viewpoint in general terms on why it was important that both sides should fight the menace of terrorism jointly. He also welcomed the resumption of the dialogue process and underlined the need to address all issues as part of this process.
He also recalled some of the achievements of this dialogue process which have already borne fruit. For instance, the very positive change in atmosphere in the relationship between the two countries which was very much in evidence in the wake of the earthquake, when we had been able to make offers for rehabilitation and relief work to be carried out on the other side of the LOC. EAM also stressed to the delegations the need to take further action so that the expectation of the people of both countries can be fulfilled.
I am afraid, I know you have several questions, I have to leave it at that for today.
Question: Is there something on China?
Navtej Sarna: The External Affairs Minister has already said it. It is on all the channels since the morning.
Question: Regarding terrorism, did we share the evidence with them?
Navtej Sarna: I do not want to go into any more details. I think you will have a chance to discuss all these issues. This is an on-going meeting.
Question: Was Siachen not discussed?
Navtej Sarna: I did not say that.
Question: Was it discussed?
Question: How will you describe today's meeting, Sir?
Navtej Sarna: As I said, it was a very detailed meeting; it was held in a very constructive and positive atmosphere; and it is not over yet.
Question: What was discussed?
Navtej Sarna: I do not want to go into discussions of what exactly was said or not. I did tell you that considerable amount of time was spent in discussing terrorism in the wake of the Havana Declaration.
Question: What are the proposed CBMs? Siachen?
Navtej Sarna: We will give you more details tomorrow as to what is being finalized. There are several CBMs which you are already aware of, which have not yet been implemented, in all fields.
On Siachen, to give you a specific answer, this is something which has been informally discussed by the two Foreign Secretaries. So, there is no point in saying it was not discussed between 10 to 11 or it was not discussed between 11 to 12. These are on-going discussions. Subjects will possibly be discussed tomorrow again.
Question: What is the programme for tomorrow?
Navtej Sarna: They will meet in the morning.
Question: Is there going to be a joint press conference or statement?
Navtej Sarna: The statement I cannot yet say. If there is something produced and agreed, we will know only tomorrow. There are no plans for a joint press conference. We have a briefing by the Foreign Secretary in the afternoon tomorrow.
Question: What was Pakistan's response on our concerns on terrorism?
Navtej Sarna: I am not going go into the detailing of the whole dialogue. What I can say is that considerable time was spent on discussing terrorism and the External Affairs Minister also underlined the need to fight this jointly.
Question: What about the nuclear risk reduction agreement?
Navtej Sarna: That is part of the discussions on the non-conventional security CBMs.
