India to seek ‘satisfactory closure’ to 26/11 case

Rao and Bashir will be discussing Jammu and Kashmir,peace and security,confidence building measures (CBMs) and friendly exchanges between the two countries,apart from reviewing the dialogue process so far. Nuclear CBMs will be part of the discussions,where the two sides will try to strengthen the existing agreements pertaining to notification on nuclear missiles and nuclear facilities.

Sources said the meetings,especially those between home and commerce secretaries,had been quite satisfactory,and New Delhi would be going to the talks with an “open and constructive approach”.

“Our concerns have not,in any way,diminished by the resumption of dialogue…through dialogue you keep the chain of communication open…How can our concerns of terrorism not be addressed by us? (and that is why we have to raise them)…terrorism is central to our concerns,” they said here on Sunday.

Given the history and complexities of the relationship between India and Pakistan,the sources said,they were not expecting “quick and dramatic solutions” and these talks would be towards an “eventual resolution” of outstanding issues between the two countries.

“Talks are a process,and not an event by itself,” official sources said,describing the significance of the foreign secretary-level talks in Islamabad in the coming days.

In fact,India handed over the last set of documents two days ago,the sources said,which included “translated copies of seizure memo” in the Mumbai terror attack trial.

Stating that “we need justice and a satisfactory closure” to the Mumbai trial,the sources said the revelations in the Chicago trial were a “part of the larger conspiracy” and New Delhi would not let its guard down and it would be very much part of the conversation.

Official sources said New Delhi agreed to Pakistan’s judicial commission visiting India and had not got any feedback on this from the courts.

On the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,the sources said,this problem had been there for decades and they were looking at greater CBMs,including transportation connectivity.

They added that focus would be on trade to help economies on both sides of Jammu and Kashmir.

These talks between the foreign secretaries will be held in the run-up to the meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries next month. The sources said the absence of a Cabinet-rank foreign minister in Pakistan would not have any impact on the process.