India & Pakistan to frame agenda for the talks to be resumed

India and Pakistan began framing the agenda for their renewed dialogue with some diplomatic push and shove. Indian officials sought to put terrorism on the top of the agenda. Their Pakistani counterparts insisted on a discussion on all “outstanding issues” — a reference to Kashmir and Balochistan.

Both sides sought to placate their domestic audiences. India, said Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Multan on Sunday, “has come to us and sought talks. We never kneeled before them and did not bow to their pressure.” He claimed New Delhi had come under “domestic pressure” to resume dialogue.   

Indian officials preferred to stress the caution underlying the dialogue. They note they are working on a “limited mandate” and, “as of now”, there was nothing on the calendar beyond the proposed foreign-secretary level talks. “Terrorism is the issue of most concern to us. So it’s expected to be one of the leading issues for the discussion,” a source said. Pakistan may be keen on reviving the composite dialogue, but that formula “hasn’t done much” in addressing terrorism.