India, Pakistan had very good talks- foreign secretary

Rao's statement signaled some improvement in ties between the two rivals that have been in a diplomatic freeze since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Stability between the two nuclear powers is seen as key to helping U.S. led efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: WTAQ Newstalk | Reuters
By Krittivas Mukherjee | April 29, 2010

THIMPHU, Bhutan: The prime ministers of India and Pakistan had "very good talks" in Bhutan's capital and agreed that relations between them should be normalized, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said on Thursday.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani are in Bhutan for a summit of South Asian leaders. This was their first meeting in nine months.

"Foreign ministers and foreign secretaries should meet as soon as possible," Rao told reporters after the meeting.

Rao's statement signaled some improvement in ties between the two rivals that have been in a diplomatic freeze since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Stability between the two nuclear powers is seen as key to helping U.S. led efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan.


India suspended a sluggish peace process with Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks, blaming Pakistan-based militants. Islamabad wants resumption of that dialogue, but New Delhi has said it should happen only if the attack planners were punished.

Re-engaging Islamabad was a politically fraught move for New Delhi, given strong Indian sensibilities about Pakistan, but a nudge from Washington and dwindling diplomatic options stemming from no talks saw India reaching out.

Edited by Alistair Scrutton
Updated by Ahmadiyya Times staff

Source: Pakistani, Indian prime ministers to meet in Bhutan