‘Trust deficit shrinking’ as Gilani, Singh meet today

The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan said on Wednesday the trust deficit between their countries had decreased, providing the foundation for a renewed push at their troubled peace process, as Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is set to meet his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh here before the opening of the 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit today (Thursday).
Pakistan is also set to ask India to curtail its role in Afghanistan and stop supporting anti-Islamabad Taliban militants and other miscreants in the country’s tribal areas and Balochistan. The foreign ministers of the two countries showed confidence and created an atmosphere of willingness for their leaders to give a push to the peace process. Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and her Indian counterpart SM Krishna held a detailed discussion on bilateral issues during the SAARC ministerial meeting before they had lunch together. Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul also joined them.
While Krishna observed that the trust-deficit with Pakistan was “shrinking”, Khar said the environment had improved to take forward the peace process. The two foreign ministers appeared confident, reflecting the improvement both sides have achieved through diplomatic engagements to normalise the situation that had worsened after the terrorist attack in Mumbai. “From our side, I can say that we look at this environment to have improved considerably … The trust deficit that typically existed between the two countries for many, many years has been reduced to a large order,” Khar said in a brief chat with reporters after her meeting with Krishna, indicating that the talks between the prime ministers of the two countries would break the ice. Before arriving here, the Indian foreign minister had reportedly made a positive statement, as the Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted him as saying: “I think our relationship with Pakistan is becoming a little more stable than what it was before.” He also said both countries should now look at a “joint strategy” to fight terror. Similarly, Khar also suggested that the atmosphere had considerably improved to pave the way for the two prime ministers to frankly and positively talk on all outstanding issues between the South Asian neighbours besides sharing views on the regional situation, particularly in the context of Afghanistan.

“We have many more miles to move ahead,” Khar said, implicitly referring to the core issue of Kashmir and other disputes which have dogged relations between the two neighbours for decades. She also said terrorism was a challenge to both India and Pakistan and this issue would come under discussion in a meeting between the prime ministers. Prime Minister Gilani arrived here on Wednesday evening. In a major confidence-building measure, Pakistan’s federal cabinet recently endorsed granting Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India as a gesture to improve relations with its neighbour. India had given MFN status to Pakistan in 1996.
NO BACKTRACKING: Pakistan also assured India on Wednesday it would not backtrack on its decision to grant New Delhi the MFN status, a report said. “Let me categorically say that I don’t see a lot of room for confusion,” the PTI quoted Khar as saying, rejecting speculation on the decision. “We will not backtrack on a cabinet decision,” she told the news agency. Khar said the special designation was also part of efforts to normalise ties between the two countries. “I can tell you categorically that the cabinet gave its approval for normalisation of trade ties with India,” she added. The commerce secretaries of the two countries are also scheduled to meet in New Delhi next week to discuss non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and modalities to ease trade between Pakistan and India. Earlier, foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India also met on Tuesday on the sidelines of the SAARC Standing Committee.
Shaiq Hussain adds from Islamabad: Pakistan will ask India to limit its role in Afghanistan and stop supporting anti-Pakistan Taliban militants and other militants in the country’s tribal areas and Balochistan. Foreign Ministry officials say that no doubt Pakistan is for improvement in relations with India, evident from its decision to grant MFN status to New Delhi, however they also believe that in order to make the future peace dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbours productive and fruitful, India would not only have to exhibit seriousness to engage in result-oriented talks with Pakistan but it would also have to work to allay Islamabad’s fears about New Delhi’s growing influence in Afghanistan. “India is not only increasing its influence in our western neighbouring state (Afghanistan) but it is also extending support to anti-Pakistan Taliban militants based in the tribal areas and miscreants in Balochistan, who are responsible for subversive acts in different various parts of the country and this is a matter of serious concern for us,” said a senior Pakistani official in Islamabad on Wednesday, asking not to be identified by name. He said Prime Minister Gilani would come up with a specific demand for curtailment of Indian influence in Afghanistan and also that New Delhi must stop supporting anti-Pakistan militants. Another Pakistani official told Pakistan Today that India was planning to train Afghan army combat units at its counter-insurgency institutions. “Moreover, they (Indians) could also provide weapons to the Afghan army and train pilots and ground staff for Afghanistan’s air force under a strategic partnership agreement signed last month by New Delhi and Kabul… We are concerned about all this happening between India and Afghanistan, as it aggravates our fears about New Delhi’s policy to encircle Islamabad and damage its interest. These matters would come up for discussions during the Indo-Pak prime ministers’ meeting,” the official said, adding that unless and until India addressed Pakistan’s genuine concerns, normal friendly ties between Islamabad and New Delhi would remain a distant goal.
Meanwhile, Maldivian Foreign Secretary Ahmed Naseer said Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and his Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir also met during the meeting of senior officials, but declined to give details. Earlier, before leaving for the Maldives, Prime Minister Gilani told reporters the importance and effectiveness of the SAARC forum had increased, following the ongoing process of dialogue between Pakistan and India. The prime minister said SAARC had been losing its effectiveness and could not move forward because of tense relations between the two neighbours.