India has an “open mind” about discussing all issues and cooperating with Pakistan, but concerns over terrorism and “speedy trial” of 26/11 Mumbai attack case have to be addressed, external affairs minister SM Krishna has clearly told top Pakistan leadership, including president Asif Ali Zardari, Indian media reported in return home.
While Krishna discussed a host of issues, including the request to release Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh late on Friday evening, Zardari wanted India, a “larger and mature democracy” and “larger economy”, to make “adjustments”, sources said.
Zardari pointed out that many institutions in Pakistan are still fragile and are in the process of maturing. He called for the betterment of ties between the two countries that would augur well for the South Asian region.
Krishna told the Pakistan president that India was open to discussing all the issues between the two countries in a cooperative spirit. According to sources, Krishna said terror emanating from Pakistan soil was a matter of grave concern and called for speedy trial in the Mumbai terror attack.
The two leaders also talked about resuming cricketing ties. India hopes that a forward movement on Mumbai attack trial like conviction of the guilty in Pakistan can create the right atmosphere for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistan.
The issue of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s arrest and other trade issues dominated his talks with Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore on Sunday.
Shahbaz Sharif belongs to the principal opposition party Pakistan Muslim League (N) headed by Nawaz Sharif. He also met the leaders of the ruling coalition in Islamabad.
The chief minister told Krishna his party and government doesn’t make any distinction between good terrorists and bad terrorists and said Saeed was in jail and had been let off due to lack of evidence against him, sources said. He also welcomed more evidence that India can share with Pakistan on Saeed.
