India,Pak lower expectations,keep hope up

Sources said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took stock of India’s position today and made it clear that the interlocutors must strongly raise Indian concerns on terror while keeping an open mind on other issues that Pakistan may raise.

Bashir expressed hope of a “positive outcome” in his first comments after reaching Delhi. “It is good to be back. I have come here to bridge the differences,“ he said.

According to sources,the Indian side will begin by flagging key concerns on the terror front,including alarming statements by Jamaat-ud-Dawa leaders like Hafiz Mohammed Saeed.

Given that the talks are being held after a long hiatus,the Indian side will convey that it views dialogue between neighbours as the suitable way forward and hopes Pakistan would reciprocate positively to its concerns.

After the formal meeting with Bashir,Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will host a lunch for the Pakistani delegation.

Bashir is also slated to meet External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon. At the delegation-level talks,India is expected to hand over some more documentary and electronic evidence of India-specific terror emanating from Pakistan.

This will relate to the investigations by the National Investigation Agency into the David Coleman Headley case as well as CDs containing recent anti-India speeches made by Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafiz Sayeed. It will also ask for voice samples of the seven Pakistani accused in the 26/11 attacks.

Further,India will look to raise humanitarian issues regarding release of prisoners,especially fishermen,lodged in each other’s jails.

After the talks,Rao will,in all likelihood,brief the Cabinet Committee on Security.