Day 1: Talks ‘positive,in right direction’

Both sides also exchanged dossiers consisting of names of terror suspects and wanted persons hiding in either countries,while Pakistan is learnt to have raked up the issue of Samjhauta blasts in which the involvement of Hindu extremists has come to light. Home Secretary G K Pillai is learnt to have told his Pakistani counterpart that the NIA is investigating the case and any details can be shared after a chargesheet is filed in the case.

However,taking the cue from the renewed bonhomie in the aftermath of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s invite to his Pakistani counterpart to watch the semi-final of the cricket World Cup match between India and Pakistan at Mohali on Wednesday,both sides decided at the outset not to let irritants take the talks off track.

Pillai said a joint statement will be issued on Tuesday afternoon. One issue on which both sides were on the same page was the need to relax visa rules for citizens of the two countries wishing to travel to the other side of the border.

“It was a substantive meeting and certain decisions were taken. Further progress is likely to be made on issues of mutual concern. However,the good thing was that talks happened without any reservations in a free and frank atmosphere. One reason for this could be the invitation extended to Pakistani President and Prime Minister by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to watch the semi-final of the ongoing cricket World Cup between India and Pakistan at Mohali on Wednesday,” said a senior functionary.

Monday’s talks,the first after a two-year-long gap in the wake of the November 26,2008 Mumbai attacks,marked the resumption of high-level discussions on all outstanding issues.

While both sides described the talks as “extremely positive” and moving in the “right direction”,sources said a major thrust on contentious issues will be laid at Tuesday’s meeting.

“Talks are extremely positive. Progress made in certain direction,in the right direction,” Pillai told reporters at the end of the first day of the two-day talks with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhary Qamar Zaman. Zaman,leading a 12-member delegation,said,“Since,we have another day for the talks to still follow through,I am not going into the specifics at the moment. But I can tell you with good amount of certainty that it’s been a very positive attitude displayed on both sides and I am really confident about tomorrow’s proceedings also.”