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Rediff.com  » News » Indo-Pak peace process under stress: Menon

Indo-Pak peace process under stress: Menon

Source: PTI
July 21, 2008 19:25 IST
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Accusing "elements" in Pakistan for the suicide attack on Indian mission in Kabul, India Monday made it clear that the recent spate of terror attacks and ceasefire violations triggered from across the border have put the peace process "under stress".

In some tough-talking, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon told his Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir that these concerns of New Delhi must be addressed.

After the fifth round of the Indo-Pak composite dialogue on peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and other Confidence Building Measures, Menon told reporters that "the composite dialogue process was under stress."

He said the talks were happening at a "difficult time of our relationship with Pakistan" following the return of democracy there.

"Unfortunately, there have been several issues in the recent past which have vitiated the atmosphere and the composite dialogue process is under stress," Menon said.

In this context, he referred to the recent violations of the ceasefire along the LoC, cross-border terrorism and incitement of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

"There have been public statements by some leaders in Pakistan, who are reverting to the old polemics," Menon said, adding all these things had culminated into the suicide bombing at the Indian embassy in Kabul in which over 40 people, including four Indians were killed.

"Our investigations so far point towards a few elements in Pakistan to be behind the (Kabul) blast," he said, but refused to identify these elements saying investigations were continuing.

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