Pak Not Hopeful of ‘Breakthrough’ on Feb 25
Though Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks begin on February 25, expectations are not very high for any ‘breakthrough’ during the deliberations, reported ANI citing sources.
Report said quoting Pakistani officials that the talks would largely be an exploratory exchange of views in the absence of an understanding between the two sides on the need for having genuine conversation.
During the talks, Islamabad’s policy would be to remain positive and try to have ‘a frank and all inclusive dialogue’ on the status of bilateral relations, said report quoting sources privy to the Foreign Office.
“There is no fixed agenda and we’ll discuss full spectrum of our relations including the longstanding issues like Kashmir and more pressing matters like water disputes,” The Dawn quoted an official, as saying.
The seven-member delegation from Pakistan, which includes officials from the FO, and also officers from water and power ministries, would leave for New Delhi on Wednesday.
The US, which is believed to be involved in bringing India and Pakistan to the talking table, knows the difficulties of making the two neighbours arrive at some conclusion.
US Under-Secretary for Defence Policy Michèle Flournoy, recently, called upon both Islamabad and New Delhi to show ‘political courage to overcome hiccups in bilateral relations’.
