Remove shadow of gun over ties,India tells Pak

After the meeting,Rao said at a joint press conference with Bashir,“The shadow of the gun and the violence it has unleashed has caused untold sufferings on our people in these years past. This needs to end.”

Indian officials said that when Rao raised the issue of infiltration,there was no angry reaction from Pakistani officials,who “listened”. There was no “cussedness” during the discussions,and the Indian side was able to convey the demand for ending infiltration in a “frank” atmosphere.

At the joint press conference,Rao called for an end to the “ideology of military conflict” and the establishment of an era of peace and cooperation.

“The ideology of military conflict should have no place in the paradigm of our relationship of the 21st century,” she said. “Instead,this relationship should be characterized by the vocabulary of peace,all-round cooperation in the interest of our people,growing trade and economic interaction,as well as people to people contacts — and all this,let me emphasize,in an atmosphere free of terror and violence.”

Although terrorism was not a part of the agenda,sources said the foreign secretary did raise the issue of expediting the 26/11 case in Pakistan,and the revelations from the Chicago trial pointing towards the involvement of Pakistani Army officers in the attacks plot.

Bashir said that while Pakistan understands In’ia’s concerns on 26/11,the issue of terrorism requires “objectivity and collaborative approach”. Rao was asked about the Samjhauta bombing probe — to which she said,“Once the investigation is completed,we will share the outcome.”

Terrorism found a mention in the joint statement,which read,“The foreign secretaries noted that both countries recognize that terrorism poses a continuing threat to peace and security and they reiterated the firm and undiluted commitment of the two countries to fight and eliminate this scourge in all its forms and manifestations. They agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism.”

On J&K,however,the two sides conveyed their “principled positions”,and there was no headway. “We cannot solve 60 years of dispute in 60 minutes,” said an official source.

The joint statement said that the two sides exchanged views on J&K and “agreed to continue discussions in a purposeful and forward looking manner” with a view to finding a “peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences”.

According to the joint statement,the foreign secretaries discussed the ongoing implementation of various nuclear and conventional Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).

There were fresh ideas on nuclear CBMs. New Delhi brought up the issue of nuclear safety and security,and how they were a “national responsibility” for both countries. Sources said that the concerns have stemmed from the Fukushima disaster in Japan,and the growing concerns about the safety of nuclear facilities in Pakistan after the terrorist attack on the PNS Mehran naval base.

Both sides decided to convene “separate expert-level meetings on nuclear and conventional CBMs” to “discuss implementation and strengthening of existing arrangements,and to consider additional measures,which are mutually acceptable,to build trust and confidence and promote peace and security”.

The two sides also discussed ideas on cross-LoC CBMs pertaining to trading days,banking facilities,and bus transport linkages,Rao said.