ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India took on Tuesday first tentative steps towards reviving their stalled peace talks by pledging to work together to find common grounds, but it remained unclear when the dialogue would reconvene.

“Both sides would reflect on today’s discussions and then decide on moving forward,” Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry told journalists after talks with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar, the first high-level Indian official to have visited Pakistan since the dialogue broke off in January 2013 because of hostilities along the Line of Control.

Mr Jaishankar also delivered a letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from Indian Premier Narendra Modi in which he reiterated Delhi’s desire for cooperative relations with all neighbours.

Despite clear commitment from both sides to narrow divergences and build on convergences, Mr Chaudhry avoided giving any timeline for resumption of bilateral engagement.

“We’ll move when both sides are ready. We’ll remain in touch and see how and when to take the next step,” he said while replying to a question and hastened to add that there was a need to seriously addressing each other’s concerns.

The Indian foreign secretary who was here as part of a regional tour, together with his host Secretary Chaudhry, tried to explore the way forward in the stalemated relationship.

At the talks, which both sides said were held in “constructive atmosphere”, the foreign secretaries discussed the various irritants in ties and expressed each other’s apprehensions and interests, besides sharing ideas on how to get past the impasse.

Jaishankar delivers a letter to Nawaz Sharif from Narendra Modi

The Pakistani foreign secretary emphasised the need for an uninterrupted dialogue for conflict resolution and said: “We need to make a concerted effort to resolve this (Jammu and Kashmir) dispute and indeed other disputes like Siachen, Sir Creek and water issues that could also be addressed through dialogue.”

The Indian side raised the issue of alleged cross-border terrorism, including the poor progress in prosecution of the Mumbai attack accused. The Pakistani delegation at the talks, meanwhile, flagged Indian involvement in unrest in Balochistan and Fata and Samjhota Express bombing and ceasefire violation.

While separately talking to media, the Indian foreign secretary said: “We engaged on each other’s concerns and interests in an open manner.”

Skirmishes on the Line of Control and Working Boundary were on both sides’ lists of concerns.

Mr Jaishankar said: “We agreed that ensuring peace and tranquillity on the border was vital.”

A Pakistani official described the meeting as an ‘ice-breaker’.

Pakistan made new proposals for promoting trade and people-to-people contacts.

“I suggested that the two sides should encourage increased people-to-people exchanges; promote cooperation in various fields, including religious tourism; and discourage hostile propaganda against each other. I also emphasised the need to promote media and sports contacts,” Mr Chaudhry said.

The Indian foreign secretary had originally come here for discussions on revitalising Saarc, but as always the regional agenda was overshadowed by bilateral matters, particularly the impasse in ties.

“Both of us agreed on the need to work together to develop the potential of regional cooperation,” Mr Chaudhry said.

Pakistan would be hosting the 19th Saarc Summit next year.

In his media remarks, Mr Jaishankar said: “Pakistan will be the next Saarc chair and India would like to work with Pakistan to help Saarc achieve its potential.”

The Indian foreign secretary also met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz.

Mr Sharif told Mr Jaishankar that both countries needed to start a new chapter in their relationship by working towards resolving their all outstanding issues through dialogue.

“We must think together, act together and move forward with the spirit of bringing the two nations closer to each other,” he said.

The prime minister called for sincerity in addressing each other’s concerns.

Published in Dawn March 4th , 2015

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