India's concern over cross-border terrorism has in no way been diluted because of the recent thaw in relations with Pakistan, according to Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai.
Briefing journalists at the end of the inaugural of the 17th SAARC summit here on Thursday, he said India had provided extensive communication and evidence to Pakistan on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
“We believe there is enough in that to take forward an investigation in Pakistan of the seven accused,” he observed.
Asked if Siachen was on the table for discussions, he said there was an ecosystem of dialogue on various themes. “We have plans between Commerce Secretaries in a few days' time, meeting between the Home Secretary [India] and the Interior Secretary [Pakistan] and a discussion on Tulbul.”
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani did mention that Siachen and Sir Creek were among the things that both nations needed to discuss. “He did raise that in that context. We need to make progress on that issues too,” Mr. Mathai said.
Asked how Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came to the conclusion that Mr. Gilani was a “man of peace” (a term he used in the morning to describe Mr. Gilani), Mr. Mathai said this was perhaps based on his many interactions with Mr. Gilani.
Dr. Singh also met Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, Bhutan Prime Minister and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He thanked Ms. Hasina for Dhaka's support in curtailing insurgent groups from operating from her country.
