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Journalism of Courage
Even as the formation of an elected government in Pakistan is underway, India is ready to reach out to the new Government and give a fresh momentum to the continuing Indo-Pak peace process.
As an indicator to this continuum in the peace process, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon is likely to visit Pakistan in April this year, which is to be followed by a visit by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
This will come in lieu of the fourth composite dialogue, which concluded recently. The review of the dialogue will lead to the visit of the Foreign Secretary and the External Affairs Minister. The MEA feels these two high-profile visits will work as “good gestures” towards the new dispensation, which will come in place in the next couple of weeks.
Besides these two proposed visits in April, the Indo-Pak judicial committee, comprising retired judges from both sides, will also meet towards the end of this month. Following up on the decision taken at the last meeting, India has already started giving consular access to Pakistan’s fishermen. Indian officials are waiting for the Pakistan Government’s nod to get consular access to Indian fishermen in its custody.
