Addu (Maldives), Nov 9: In the backdrop of “shrinking” trust deficit, India and Pakistan today discussed the key issue of terrorism, which has dogged the bilateral ties for years, with New Delhi asking Islamabad not to allow terrorism from its soil and seeking speedy trial of 26/11 case.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna met his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar for about 30 minutes at the convention centre in Gan, one of the islands at this atoll.
“Terror was the main stress of the meeting. Krishna told Pakistan that it should not allow its soil to be used for terror. To which Khar assured that her country will not allow its soil to be used for such acts,” an official privy to the meeting told PTI here.
The official said, “India also raised the issue of the 26/11 trial in Pakistan and Pakistani judicial commission's visit to India in connection with the Mumbai attack case.”
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Krishna said, “Terrorism continues to be the focal point of India's dialogue process with Pakistan. So when we discuss bilateral issues, we certainly factor terror and its various ramifications”.
He was responding to a query if the issue of terror was raised by him during the meet.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said such meetings add to the “feel good factor”.
“More contacts, more meetings are forward looking. We did discuss the meeting at summit level tomorrow,” he said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani tomorrow morning.
