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Q.1911 Visit of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1911
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2011
SHRI RAMCHANDRA PRASAD SINGH:
SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that Shrimati Heena Rebani, Foreign Minister of Pakistan visited India in the last week of July, 2011;
(b) if so, whether it is also a fact that she met the separatist activists from the State of Jammu and Kashmir before meeting the representatives of Government of India;
(c) if so, whether it is also fact that the Foreign Minister was encouraged to talk about Kashmir in the interactive talks and she insisted on raising Kashmir issue during Indo-Pak talks; and
(d) if so, the reaction of Government in this regard?
ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)
(a) & (b) Yes.
(c) & (d) During the meeting of External Affairs Minister (EAM) with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan in New Delhi on July 27, 2011, the Foreign Ministers held discussions on, among other issues, the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and agreed to the need for continued discussions, in a purposeful and forward looking manner, with a view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences. During the discussions, EAM conveyed our displeasure at Pakistan’s Foreign Minister meeting Hurriyat leaders on July 26, even before bilateral discussions between the two Governments could commence.