India and Pakistan: The game of talks

India's eye on big picture at home secy talks

To Focus On 26/11 Trial,Infiltration

Vishwa Mohan & Yudhvir Rana /TNN

New Delhi/Attari: Cricket diplomacy will have a bearing on the much awaited home secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan beginning on Monday.Though all pending issues will be raised as New Delhi does not want to lose focus amid the sudden turn of events,the emphasis is likely to be on taking some quick steps on both sides to facilitate more people to people contact.
As the two-day talks will conclude a day before Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani lands in Mohali where he will meet PM Manmohan Singh,the mood in the home ministry is to take the dialogue forward with ease in the friendly atmosphere.Officials,however,insist that the talks will be held without losing focus on key issues ranging from progress in 26/11 trial to crossborder terrorism and release of each others prisoners and fishermen.
A top government official said,One should not expect any tough posturing.We will raise all pending issues firmly and try to have positive assurance from other side.Only the follow-up action will tell us where we stand amid all these diplomatic gestures (Singhs invitation to Gilani). The Indian side will be led by home secretary Gopal Pillai,while Pakistani interior secretary Qamar Zaman Chaudhary will lead a sixmember delegation.Officials said though no major breakthrough was expected at the talks,it would hopefully be an ice-breaking exercise for resumption of substantial dialogue at different levels later.Setting a positive tone for the talks,Zaman,who reached India via the Attari-Wagah border,said his meeting was aimed at promoting peace between the two neighbours.I am sure we will listen to each other, he said.
We will be talking to our counterparts in New Delhi about how to make travel easier for the common man.One of the issues we intend to discuss is the visa issue between the two countries and how to make it easier and faster so that the common man can benefit, he added.On Gilanis visit,he said,The entire country has appreciated this gesture of the prime minister of India.
The home secretaries will deliberate on a wide range of issues,including Islamabads reluctance to bring to justice the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks and progress in Samjhauta Express blast probe in Indian side.