Terrorism focus of talks with Pakistan: Nirupama Rao

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Monday said India’s concern about terrorism would be its main focus at the forthcoming talks with Pakistan this week.

“Our core concerns about terrorism will find essential focus (at the Feb 25 talks),” Ms. Rao told reporters here at a conference organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Ms. Rao is set to meet with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in New Delhi on Thursday. This will be the first significant stand-alone official level interaction between the neighbours since India suspended the composite dialogue process after the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

India has been asking Pakistan to take action against the masterminds of the Mumbai terror attack and also to dismantle the infrastructure of terror groups operating on its soil.

“Effective action against such groups by the government of Pakistan is an absolute must,” Ms. Rao said.

While India has only one item on its agenda, Pakistan has said it will raise all issues at the meeting, including Kashmir.

“Obviously, we would like to keep the door to dialogue open,” Ms. Rao said, adding that both countries should move forward in a “slow and deliberate” manner.