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Rediff.com  » News » Terror, Kashmir to figure in Singh's talks with Aziz

Terror, Kashmir to figure in Singh's talks with Aziz

November 11, 2005 23:10 IST
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The issue of cross-border terrorism and Kashmir are expected to figure Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz here on Saturday when the two leaders will review the progress in Composite Dialogue Process on the sidelines of the SAARC summit.

The meeting assumes significance as it is taking place less than a fortnight after Delhi serial bomb blasts. Dr Singh has told Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf immediately after the blasts that India was "disturbed" over indications of "external linkages" in it.

He had conveyed to Musharraf, when he called on October 31 to convey condolences after the blast, that New Delhi expected Islamabad to fulfil its commitments of January 2004 and act tough on terror.

During the meeting, Singh is expected to remind Aziz about Pakistan's promises to curb cross-border terrorism made in the January 6, 2004, Joint Statement, official sources said.

Ahead of the meeting, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan Friday said Musharraf had condemned the Delhi explosions and offered to India all cooperation with regard to investigations into the Diwali-eve blasts which killed 60 people and injured 210.

To a question, he said the Pakistan president had sought "solid evidence" about his country's linkages but it had not been provided so far.

The Delhi blasts are suspected to have been carried out by Lashker-e-Taiba militant outfit based in Pakistan.

The Pakistani side is expected to raise the issue of Kashmir with Khan saying Islamabad wanted progress on the issue.

Both terrorism and Kashmir are among the eight issues being discussed under Composite Dialogue Process whose progress will be reviewed by Singh and Aziz.

The two countries have already concluded two rounds of the Composite Dialogue and the third is scheduled to begin in January.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss the ongoing cooperation in earthquake relief work. India and Pakistan have already opened two crossing points on the Line of Control for quake relief cooperation. One more is to be opened Saturday followed by two more.

Asked whether any new proposal could emerge after the meeting, Khan said there was always a possibility but he did not want to pre-judge.

About when the Indian prime minister would be visiting Pakistan, Khan said Islamabad had extended an invitation and it hoped that it would take place at the earliest.

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