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Q.286 Status of Indo-Pak Negotiations
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 286
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.02.2010
SHRI PRABODH PANDA:
DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI:
SHRI MADHU GOUD YASKHI:
SHRI B.B. PATIL:
SHRI EKNATH M. GAIKWAD:
SHRI M. RAJA MOHAN REDDY:
SHRI S.R. JEYADURAI:
DR. RATNA DE (NAG):
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of the India-Pakistan negotiations on various bilateral issues;
(b) whether the negotiations have been proposed between the two countries at Foreign Secretary level recently;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the circumstances which have forced the Government to hold the talks with Pakistan;
(d) the present status of persons accused in 26/11 Mumbai attacks, in Pakistan;
(e) whether the Government has taken up this issue with the Pakistan authorities; and
(f) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?
ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI S.M. KRISHNA)
(a) The India-Pakistan Composite Dialogue process was paused after the terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008. However, there have been a few meetings at the level of Prime Minister and Foreign Minister with Pakistan after the terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008. In these meetings apart from asking Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack to justice, it was conveyed that any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan can only be based on fulfilment of its commitment, in letter and spirit, not to allow its territory to be used in any manner for terrorist activities against India. Pakistan has assured Government that it will do everything in its power to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack to justice.
(b) to (c) Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan are scheduled to be held in New Delhi on February 25, 2010. The meeting of the Foreign Secretaries on February 25 is not a continuation of the Composite Dialogue Process. The proposed talks will focus essentially on India’s core concerns regarding terrorism. It is Government’s consistently expressed position that it is necessary to have an environment free of terror or threat of terror if relations between the two countries are to move forward concretely and meaningfully. Government expects Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack to justice, unravel the full conspiracy behind the attack, fulfil its commitment to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and to deny sanctuary to all terrorist groups which operate from its soil. Enabling an effective channel of communication between India and Pakistan can assist in the discussion of such concerns and to highlight the seriousness we attach to the need for action by Pakistan against terrorism.
(d) to (f) Pakistan acknowledged and admitted on February 12, 2009 that the terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008 was planned and launched from Pakistan. In its dossier of July 11, 2009, Pakistan also acknowledged that substantial incriminating evidence had been unearthed which directly connects five accused LeT operatives under Pakistani custody to the attacks in Mumbai. Two more suspects were arrested later. On November 25, 2009, the Government of Pakistan reportedly filed a charge sheet in an Anti Terrorism Court in Pakistan against the seven suspects and 20 proclaimed offenders for their role in the terrorist attack on Mumbai. The trial in Pakistan is on going.