NEW YORK : In his first meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif later today, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to strongly raise the issue of terrorism, and emphasise that the dialogue process cannot succeed unless anti-India activities of groups like LeT and JuD chief Hafeez Saeed are curbed.
Singh is expected to clearly tell the new Pakistani leadership that Islamabad needs to “match its words by action” when it comes to their commitment on counter-terrorism.
Putting ball in their court, the Indian side, according to sources, will ask them what the new Pakistani government has to offer in addressing India’s concerns over continued terrorism, particularly since Sharif has made some “nice” statements.
Singh is likely to tell Sharif that India is keen to take the relationship with Pakistan forward but this process was being hampered by repeated terror attacks and the free run given to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, whose chief Saeed continues to engage in anti-India tirades openly.
Setting the tone for the meeting, the Indian Prime Minister said at the UN General Assembly that the “terror machinery” in Pakistan, which receives “sustenance” there, must be shut down to allow progress in the dialogue process.
He said the “epicentre of terrorism” is in Pakistan and wanted the problem to be addressed.
At the same time, sources said, the Prime Minister is open to any new move that would help in establishing peace in the region and addressing the issues between the two countries.
One of these proposals is forming a joint mechanism to monitor tensions along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
“We are ready to talk on all issues. We know what are the issues,” sources familiar with preparations for the talks said.
“Let’s see what they offer to deal with our concerns,” they said.
India would like to hear from Pakistan on specific steps they would want to take on key issues like dismantling LeT, bringing to justice the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, and anti-India activities of “wanted” individuals like Dawood Ibrahim.
Economic issues too are expected to figure in the talks including granting the Most Favoured Nation status to India, which has long been promised by Pakistan and has been delayed for reasons best known to Islamabad.
The two leaders are also likely to talk about steps that would increase trade and commerce between India and Pakistan; in addition to the possibility of export of Indian electricity to Pakistan.
However, ahead of the meeting, Singh himself has toned down expectations from his first high-level talks with Sharif.
“I look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, even though the expectations have to be toned down given the terror arm which is still active in our subcontinent,” Singh told reporters at the White House on Friday. (AGENCIES)
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