Sinha rejects Pak talks offer

Pakistan today made a fresh offer to resume dialogue with India on all outstanding issues including J-K but New Delhi rejected it, asserting...

Pakistan today made a fresh offer to resume dialogue with India on all outstanding issues including J-K but New Delhi rejected it, asserting that the climate for this was no conducive.

8216;8216;We are ready to start the dialogue today. But I suspect the Indian side is not ready yet,8217;8217; Pakistan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Inamul Haq told reporters shortly after shaking hands with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha.

8216;Incursion8217; to figure in
talks with China

New Delhi: A Chinese 8216;8216;incursion8217;8217; in the Thakung area along the Line of Actual Control LAC in eastern Ladakh on August 16 has sent alarm bells ringing in the Leh-based 14 Corps.
MoD officials downplayed the incident saying this was a case of 8216;8216;perceived violation8217;8217; of LAC as both sides stake claim to the same territory.
Still, the incident will be raised at the next flag meeting, sources said. Border meetings between Indian commanders and their Chinese counterparts take place almost every second month. Gaurav C. Sawant

The two ministers smiled and posed for photographs after the inauguration of the two-day 23rd session of the SAARC council of ministers. They were present during the informal consultations among SAARC foreign ministers.

Discounting the suggestion that the friendly handshake could be construed as breaking of the ice between India and Pakistan, Haq said: 8216;8216;I don8217;t think there will be any bilateral discussions with Sinha during this meeting.

8216;8216;We hope certainly that bilateral dialogue will be resumed very soon. But certainly we are looking forward to India also joining that dialogue because this cannot be held by one country alone,8217;8217; he said.

Reacting swiftly, External Affairs ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao said dialogue can be resumed only if Pakistan puts an end to infiltration. There is a permanent and visible end to cross-border terrorism including dismantlement of the infrastructure of terrorism in the territory controlled by Pakistan. 8216;8216;These demands are in line with Pakistan8217;s commitment which it has not delivered. We believe that promises made by a country should be kept. We are waiting for action. The climate for resumption of dialogue has to be conducive but it is not conducive,8217;8217; she said.

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On Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf8217;s remarks that some elements may be crossing into India through the porous border, Haq said: 8216;8216;That is a statement of fact.

8216;8216;We have always said there is no way to absolutely seal the border. Individuals, probably of divided families, even some rogue elements and some renegades might be crossing the Line of Control,8217;8217; he said. About exchange of high commissioners, he said: 8216;8216;We are always ready for this8217;8217;.

Observing that the SAARC region has the dubious distinction of hosting the largest number of poor of the world, Sinha said: 8216;8216;It is the war against poverty which should occupy our attention.8217;8217; PTI