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Q.355 Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.355
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.02.2011
SHRI M.P. ACHUTHAN:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that a Foreign Secretary level discussion was held recently between India and Pakistan as a prelude to resume a composite dialogue on outstanding issues; and
(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?
ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)
(a) & (b) In pursuance of the mandate given by the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, following their meeting in Thimphu in April, 2010 and the meeting of the Minister of External Affairs of India and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan in Islamabad in July, 2010, the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan met in Thimphu on February 6, 2011, to chart the way forward in India-Pakistan relations. The Foreign Secretaries agreed on the need for a constructive dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues. The two sides have agreed on the following:
(i) They have agreed to resume dialogue on all issues following the spirit of the Thimphu meeting between the two Prime Ministers.
(ii) The Foreign Minister of Pakistan will visit India by July 2011 to review progress in the dialogue process with his counterpart. This will be preceded by a meeting of the two Foreign Secretaries.
(iii) They have agreed that prior to the visit of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, meetings at the level of respective Secretaries will be convened on Counter-terrorism (including progress on Mumbai trial); Humanitarian issues; Peace & Security, including CBMs; Jammu & Kashmir; promotion of friendly exchanges; Siachen; Economic issues; Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project; and Sir Creek (at the level of Additional Secretaries/Surveyors General).
(iv) Dates of the aforementioned meetings will be fixed through diplomatic channels.