High-level Indian and Pakistani officials held talks Tuesday against the backdrop of a recent terror attack that killed 20 people in India's financial capital. The foreign secretaries' meeting, just five months after the nations resumed bilateral discussions, was expected to focus on confidence-building measures including cross-border trade and visa protocols before the countries' foreign ministers meet Wednesday.
``This is essentially a preparatory round,' Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters before meeting counterpart Salman Bashir in New Delhi. ``We had a very good meeting in Islamabad last month, and this has, in a sense, set the trend for our discussions here today.' ``We have every reason to be satisfied with our joint endeavours for the cause of peace and stability and for good relations between our two countries,' Bashir said.
Tuesday's talks lasted a few hours, but the discussions were not detailed afterward. Since February, Indian and Pakistani officials have discussed a range of issues including terrorism threats, co-operation on the 2008 Mumbai attacks investigation and the divided Himalayan territory of Kashmir, which both sides claim in its entirety. India's defence minister also said the two sides would hopefully ``be able to find a solution in the long run,' but would plan for contingencies. ``We will continue dialogue on the one side and on the other side, we will strengthen our national security apparatus,' Defence Minister A.K. Antony said.
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