Opening statements by EAM and Pak FM during Joint Press Interaction

15/07/2010

Foreign Minister of Pakistan (Mr. S.M. Qureshi): Ladies and Gentlemen, my apologies to keep you waiting. It took much longer than anticipated. Obviously, we were meeting after a long interval. There was so much to discuss. Mr. Krishna, the External Affairs Minister, and myself, we had a very frank, candid and honest discussion on where we stand, how we look at our bilateral relations, and how do we move forward.

Pakistan has always wanted friendly, cooperative, and good neighbourly relations with India. We have started a process to achieve this objective. Both sides recognize that process had made incremental progress. We had made substantive progress in a number of areas as well. Both sides at the leadership level in Thimphu, Bhutan, agreed that dialogue is the only way forward and is the most preferred way forward.

The two Foreign Ministers were given the task to sit and discuss ways and means to restore confidence and bridge the trust deficit. Today we have had an extended meeting looking at various options, looking at various steps that would build and restore confidence, that would bridge trust deficit.

If our objective is good neighbourly relations, friendly, cooperative relations, the question is, how can we achieve this if we are not engaging? We cannot achieve this objective while remaining disengaged. And that is why the two Prime Ministers felt the necessity to resume the dialogue process.

If we want to move forward, the question is how do we move forward without addressing issues of mutual concern? And there are many issues of mutual concern. Let me point out terrorism is an issue of mutual concern. Today India and Pakistan both are victims of terrorism. How do we face this challenge? We have come to the conclusion that the best way to deal with this challenge is to recognize this as a common enemy and adopt a common approach vis-à-vis this menace. I explained to the Foreign Minister the change in mood within Pakistan, the steps Pakistan has undertaken to deal with this menace, and the law enforcement operations under way in Pakistan.

We also discussed how we can hasten the trial process which is under way. We recognize and accept that the meeting of the Home Minister and the Interior Minister was encouraging. We are of the view that the meeting between the Foreign Secretaries was very useful to lay the foundations for a sustained, meaningful, result-oriented dialogue.

Pakistan would take the leads provided by the Home Minister very seriously because we want to move on. Resolution of outstanding issues is important. Today there are issues which are of significance to India. And progress vis-à-vis the Mumbai trial, cooperation in overcoming the challenge of terrorism is important and has taken a very prominent role. One recognizes that. But there are issues that are of core importance to Pakistan. They should be addressed and we have to discuss them. We have agreed on the need to discuss them, to make the process meaningful.

In our discussions we were very frank and we had a discussion on all the issues that are of importance whether it is terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir, Sir Creek, Siachen. How there are opportunities of economic cooperation, and how through economic integration we can uplift the quality of the ordinary citizens of South Asia, how people-to-people contacts will facilitate and create an enabling environment to sustain the dialogue, all these issues were discussed in a very open, in a very frank, and in a very candid manner.

We have made progress on certain Kashmir-related CBMs. We have discussed how useful they have been and how we can build on what we have achieved in the past, whether it is cross-LoC trade or travel. We have talked about the fact that we can reach an amicable resolution of the Sir Creek issue. And Pakistan has asked for the Indian proposal that was made verbally to be sent to us in writing.

We have also discussed how we can take steps that will improve, help many people like prisoners, like fishermen. But we feel we have to look at the larger picture and all issues have to be dealt in tandem. We have to respect the Indian point of view and they have to understand Pakistan’s point of view, and collectively we have to move on.

So, today’s prolonged discussions were useful in creating an understanding how to move forward. We have agreed that this process is valuable, and we will continue to meet in the future as well. We also feel that the progress made through a concerted effort in the last four years should not come to naught and we should build on it. So, to that extent I would say this was a useful meeting; it was a useful engagement; and we have agreed to continue this engagement in the days to come.
Thank you.

External Affairs Minister (Shri S.M. Krishna): Excellency, Foreign Minister Qureshi, ladies and gentlemen, I would join the distinguished Foreign Minister of Pakistan in profusely apologizing to all of you for making you wait for a long time. The nature of these discussions that we had had was such that it could not be concluded on time. In the meanwhile, I had the honor of calling on the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and also the Prime Minister of this country. As a result of these engagements, we were delayed.

Let me start by thanking Foreign Minister Qureshi for the remarks he just now made. The sentiments that he has expressed about good neighborly relationship between our two countries, that’s what we have been striving for the last so many years. At times, we have succeeded, at times we have not been able to make for the kind of progress that we expected, we thought we would. Foreign Minister Qureshi and I along with our delegations have had cordial and useful exchange of views on all issues concerning our relationship. We reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and discussed steps to promote trust and confidence in keeping with the mandate given to both of us by the respective Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan during their meeting in Thimphu. This was to pave the way for a serious, comprehensive and sustained dialogue thereon, on issues of mutual interest and concern.

I think our talks have enabled us to develop better understanding. We are starting on this journey cognizant of the complexities in our relationship, the challenges that lie ahead and the promise that a good neighborly relationship between our two countries holds for our peoples. India is committed to being a sincere partner in our efforts to establish peaceful and cooperative relations between our two countries. I would also like to reiterate that India desires a peaceful stable and prosperous Pakistan. We wish the people of Pakistan well. Our Prime Minister has ambition of prosperity in south Asia in which all countries of the region grow together in a cooperative mode.

I have conveyed to the distinguished Foreign Minister Qureshi that effective action against terrorism directed against India and all out effort by Pakistan to fulfill the commitment given by His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in Thniphu, not allow the territory of Pakistan to be used for terrorism against India would go a long way in building trust and confidence. I am indeed please that Foreign Minister Mr. Qureshi has assured me that the Government of Pakistan will do everything in its power to fulfill this commitment. In this context Foreign Minister Mr. Qureshi has also assured me that the investigation in the Mumbai terrorist attack case, taking into account the additional information coming out the recent interrogation of David Coleman Headley and provided by our Home Minister during his visit to Pakistan last month, could be pursued rigorously to unravel the full conspiracy and bring all the perpetrators of that horrific crime to justice.

He has also further told me that steps are being taken to speed up the ongoing trial by the seven accused under detention. In addition to the above, FM Qureshi and I discussed a number of other bilateral issues. The bottom line is that it was good and constructive discussion. I look forward to my continued discussion on this issue and other issues and I have invited FM Qureshi to visit India, and I would look forward to welcome him to India in the near future.

FM Qureshi and the government of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan have showed enormous goodwill towards Indian and the Indian delegation. I am indeed grateful and I would like to thank Foreign Minister Qureshi from the core of my heart for the excellent arrangements he has made to take care of the Indian delegation and let me conclude by wishing government of Pakistan, Foreign Minister Qureshi and the people of Pakistan God's peace and prosperity, may we continue to be good neighbors and with this I would like to conclude and offer my thanks to Foreign Minister Qureshi.

Islamabad
July 15, 2010

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