Pakistan is most likely going to hold on to its position that the composite dialogue process is the only way forward for normalising bilateral ties.
Pakistan will hold an inter-ministerial discussion on India’s offer to hold foreign secretary-level talks and is expected to take a tough line, as it is interested in engaging New Delhi in a result-oriented talk instead of an open-ended talk that may not achieve much.
A foreign office spokesperson in Islamabad said Pakistan is most likely going to hold on to its position that the composite dialogue process is the only way forward for normalising bilateral ties.
Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao had offered to hold talks with her Pakistani counterpart, Salman Bashir, to discuss all outstanding issues but with a focus on counter-terrorism and after making it clear that India was not interested in resumption of the composite dialogue, which was suspended after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26.
Although the Pakistani foreign office is yet to take a final decision, sources say there is a strong resistance at agreeing to accepting parleys that do not lead to the restoration of the composite dialogue or having a confab under a new framework.
The Indian invitation for talks has nevertheless put Pakistan into a diplomatic dilemma. Accepting the offer compromises its stance on composite dialogue, while rejecting it may invite international pressure with world capitals perceiving Islamabad as ‘a blocker’.
Officials, however, insisted that the mood during an in-house consultation should not be used to prejudge Pakistan’s response. “At the end of the day, it is going to be the decision of the political leadership on whether or not to accept the invitation,” a diplomat said, adding the political leadership might come up with some “out- of-the-box thinking”.
Meanwhile, former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri has rebutted foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s claims that the Kashmir issue was not close to being solved through backchannels.
Kasuri said the record of such a proposal was with the Pakistan government and that president Asif Zardari, in his first press conference as head of state, had referred to the progress on resolving the Kashmir dispute and stated rather ‘overenthusiastically’ that he was aware of the progress and the nation would soon hear good news.
Kasuri said it was unfortunate that there was a total disconnect between the presidency and the Pakistani foreign office over the issue.
Indian help on Chenab
India will provide data on the flow of the Chenab river, which has been a source of concern to Pakistan during its current dry spell. This assurance was given the Indian Indus Water commissioner G Auranga Nathan, who is on a delegation-level visit to Pakistan for routine inspections under the Indus Basin Water Treaty.
Pakistan has been seeking data on the Chenab data, as it is concerned at a decrease in water flow of up to 25%.
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