Pakistan has said it could focus on American demands to do more in the war on terror only if the US used its influence with India to lessen tensions and to press for resumption of the stalled composite dialogue process.
India has proposed two sets of dates -- March 21-22 and March 28-29 -- to Pakistan for Home Secretary-level talks, where counter-terrorism, including progress in Mumbai terror attacks trial and the demand for voice samples of 26/11 accused are expected to be discussed.
The much anticipated peace talks between the Taliban and the United States might not happen as well, a US official said, as the Special US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan left Qatar without any talks with the Afghan insurgent group.
Amid a dramatic increase in drone attacks on militants in the Waziristan tribal region, CIA chief Leon Panetta arrived here today for talks with Pakistan's civil and military leadership.
The clichd path of conducting 'uninterrupted and uninterruptable' bilateral dialogue with Pakistan to improve ties remains unimplemented and un-implementable under prevailing circumstances that are unlikely to alter in the near future, says Rahul Bedi.
With investigators suggesting involvement of some Hindu outfits in cross-border Samjhauta Express train blast, the issue is all set to figure in the Indo-Pak Foreign Ministerial and Home Secretary-level talks next week.
It is when one looks away from the immediate song and dance and at the granular detail of what has been going on since 2014 that one realises what the quality and competence of thinking and execution is in this project we call New India, asserts Aakar Patel.
The two sides exchanged maps outlining their respective claims over the marshy strip as well as maritime boundary in that area.
Kasuri expressed unhappiness over Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta's charge that Pakistan was trying to play down the threat of international terrorism by labelling the Taliban uprising as an ethnic issue.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting of top security and civil officials ahead of holding talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of a regional conference in Islamabad.
The Indian government of India has requested for the postponement because, as a result of the recent transition in leadership, an external affairs minister has not yet taken office.
India is actively considering the Pakistani proposal on the talk schedule for remaining secretary-level meetings in the third round of resumed dialogue with dates on the crucial issue of water and Sir Creek being suggested ahead of the meeting between their prime ministers in New York in September.
Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran met President Musharraf and briefed him on the outcome of the talks.
Pakistan was on Thursday dismissive of India's attempts to raise fresh evidence of Inter Service Intelligence's links to the 26/11 attacks at the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks, stating clearly that the agenda would be limited to three issues: Kashmir, peace and security and friendly exchanges.
After a six-month pause, India and Pakistan on Tuesday resumed their composite dialogue with the Foreign Secretaries meeting here to discuss various bilateral issues including terrorism, Kashmir and confidence building measures. Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and his counterpart Salman Bashir held delegation level discussions to review the fourth round of composite dialogue. Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and various confidence building measures were discussed.
Addressing a joint press conference in Washington along with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that over the next few days the strategic talks will focus on Pakistan's energy and water needs.
Menon said he would not like to jump to any conclusion as to which terrorist group was behind the Jaipur bomb blasts. Asked if the government of India was taken by surprise by the series of bomb blasts that shook Jaipur on Tuesday night particularly when it came after firing from across the border from the Pakistani Rangers and the killing of innocent persons in Samba sector in Jammu resign, the foreign secretary said that peace and security would be high on the agenda.
India and Pakistan have no right to impose leaders or solutions on Kashmiris who have sacrificed their lives and honour for a sacred cause, he said.
Ahead of the first-ever National Security Advisor-level talks, Pakistan on Monday asked India to end the blame game and come forward with a fresh mind for the dialogue.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that during his recent visit to India, he "keenly felt" that both sides had agreed to adhere to the leaders' consensus that the two countries are not a threat to each other and handle and manage their differences.
A move by India and Pakistan to ease their decades-old visa regime to benefit tourists, senior citizens and businessmen was hailed on Saturday as a milestone in a "nascent" peace process, with the media in Islamabad calling it the first major outcome of the dialogue that resumed last year.
The Indo-Pak talks on Kashmir-related confidence-building measures were put off indefinitely on Thursday as a top official, who was to lead the Indian side, had gone to Afghanistan in the wake of the suicide attack on New Delhi's mission in Kabul.
Asked whether Islamabad was ready to postpone for sometime the expert-level talks slated for next week since the new government might seek some time, Kasuri said, 'We are realistic.'
'I tried my best to kill him. I wanted to kill him (Khan) only and no one else'
Geelani claimed since there was no change in the ground situation even after the initiation of a comprehensive dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad, its suspension would make no difference.
The Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks to review the third round of composite dialogue process may be resumed on November 10
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to seek Pakistan's support for the continuation of its nuclear programme as well as to discuss the progress on the India-Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project.
"The Prime Minister thanked the Prime Minister of Pakistan for his telephone call and greetings," MEA said.
India and China on Tuesday agreed to "jointly deal with security threats" and take measures to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism during their first dialogue on counter-terrorism and security in Beijing, amid Indo-Pak tensions following the Uri terror attack.
Koizumi, who arrived in Islamabad from New Delhi on a two-day visit, held two-hour-long one-to-one meeting with Musharraf during which a host of issues, including Pakistan's commitment to the India-Pak peace process, figured.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said the government is mulling a possible ban on Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime minister's arrest.
Pakistan's permanent representative at the UN Maleeha Lodhi was instructed to contact the UN leadership to discuss the rejection of dialogue by India.
The PCB clarified that the concept of a 'hybrid model' of tournament was strictly pertaining to Asia Cup since India will not travel to Pakistan.
Being with Russia means being on the wrong side of history and Kyiv wants closer and deeper relations with New Delhi, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Tuesday while suggesting that the Russian invasion has lessons for countries with 'difficult neighbours'.
It also noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to Pakistani provocations.
After initial hiccups, Pakistani state negotiators and a Taliban-nominated committee met at an undisclosed location on Thursday to frame a roadmap for parleys aimed at ending terrorism and bringing peace to the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have secured a rare concession from Pakistan that 'terrorism' and not the issue of Kashmir be the central theme of the India-Pakistan dialogue.
In a sudden breakthrough, National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan held talks in Bangkok on Sunday on a wide gamut of bilateral ties including terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir, and agreed to take forward the "constructive" engagement.
