Peace process under stress: Menon

Days after National Security Advisor M K Narayanan pointed finger at Pakistan8217;s involvement in the attack on Indian embassy in Kabul...

Days after National Security Advisor M K Narayanan pointed finger at Pakistan8217;s involvement in the attack on Indian embassy in Kabul, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon reiterated that investigations pointed towards 8220;elements in Pakistan8221;. Menon said this had been conveyed to Pakistan during the talks on Monday and that 8220;the composite dialogue process is under stress8221;.

When Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureishi called External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday, Mukherjee mentioned the concerns, said Menon. The two ministers agreed to meet on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Colombo next month.

Responding to the charge, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, said in New Delhi that Pakistan has 8220;asked the Indian Government to share credible evidence8221;. He said the NSA8217;s statement has created a sense of 8220;disquiet8221; in Islamabad and India should refrain from a blame-game which had been going on for the last 60 years. He said Pakistan too shared its concerns, but it was a 8220;gentlemen8217;s agreement8221; not to air them in public.

The war of words took place hours after the Indian and Pakistan foreign secretaries, along with their official delegations, met at Hyderabad House in the Capital and launched the fifth round of Composite Dialogue, with Peace 038; Security and Kashmir on their agenda.

Menon said, 8220;The talks are happening at a difficult time. Unfortunately, several events vitiated the atmosphere,8221; he said, listing out 8220;instances of LoC firing, public statements by Pakistan officials inciting violence in Jammu and Kashmir and then the Kabul blast8221;.

Asked whether intelligence about the recent terror strikes and other 8220;serious incidents8221; was shared with the Pakistani side, Menon said 8220;We told them what we know about these attacks and what we expect from them. We want to see our concerns redressed8230; We have this dialogue process to address these concerns.8221;

Pakistan8217;s Foreign secretary, however, said that Pakistan 8220;remains sincerely committed to the composite dialogue process. 8220;We have many areas of convergence and some areas of divergence,8221;he said.

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On the terrorism charge, Qureishi said, 8220;Pakistan is not under probation. It does not need to prove its credentials. We know that the allegations originated from somewhere else, and are now being said by the Indian Government,8221; referring to Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai8217;s statements. 8220;I respect the views of the Indian Foreign Secretary, I would not like to characterise the dialogue process as has been described. The dialogue has immense potential,8221; he said, referring to Menon8217;s remarks on the dialogue process.