Bilateral Talks with Pak if Chidambaram Goes for SAARC Meet

Though a decision is yet to be taken on whether he will visit Pakistan for the SAARC Interior Ministers’ Conference, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that if he were to goes there and an opportunity  presented itself, bilateral talks with Pakistan may happen, reported Indian Express.

“I presume if I go to Pakistan, I presume we will hold bilateral talks if there is an opportunity. But remember SAARC is a multilateral forum,” Chidambaram was quoted as saying.

He made the statement after presenting the monthly report card of his Ministry.

It may be mentioned that the SAARC conference is scheduled to begin on February 20 and there are signs that Chidambaram may attend. If visit is made, it will be the first visit by an Union Minister to Pakistan since Pranab Mukherjee’s May 2008 visit in his capacity as the then External Affairs Minister.