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Samjhauta Express bombing to overshadow India-Pakistan peace talks

The bombing of the Samjhauta Express train from India to Pakistan which killed 68 people is expected to dominate talks between their foreign ministers on Wednesday.

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NEW DELHI: The bombing of the Samjhauta Express train from India to Pakistan which killed 68 people this week is expected to dominate talks between their foreign ministers on Wednesday, but the fact they are meeting signals a new diplomatic maturity.   

Talks between Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri, the third in three months, sought to improve trust and push the pace of the peace process.   

But the blasts on the Samjhauta Express, which connects New Delhi to the Pakistani city of Lahore, hijacked those plans and again underlined the threats that the fragile peace faces, officials and analysts said.   

Although early investigations have seen no breakthrough and New Delhi has refrained from pointing a finger across the border as it has in the past, suspicion has once again fallen on Muslim extremists opposed to peace between the neighbours.   

Both countries have condemned the attack and said it must not be allowed to undermine better ties.   

"Terrorism will remain on the agenda until we are convinced Pakistan has permanently closed the tap of terror there" said an Indian foreign ministry official, referring to New Delhi's position that Pakistan allows militants to operate from its soil.

"We have to continue to work together and keep the pressure to ensure we achieve that."

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the two sides would discuss how a joint system they set up last year to fight terrorism could be used to investigate the bombings.   
The long-time South Asian rivals launched peace talks three years ago after coming close to the brink of what would have been their fourth war.   

While the peace process has yet to achieve any significant success, particularly on the central dispute over Kashmir, it has improved relations and the Samjhauta train was a symbol of that thaw.   

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