Type: Parliament Questions and Answers

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the number of times the Ministers of External Affairs, Prime Ministers and Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan have held meetings during the last three years and the current year;

(b) the details of the issues discussed during these meetings; and

(c) the outcome of these talks held along with the measures adopted to settle mutual disputes?

ANSWER: THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR)

(a) to (c) During the period 2009- May 2012, the Prime Ministers and Ministers of External Affairs of India and Pakistan have met five times each; the Foreign Secretaries have met nine times. These include meetings on the margins of multilateral events besides bilateral meetings.

In pursuance of the mandate given by the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan in April 2010, the Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries of two countries discussed the modalities for restoring trust and confidence in the relationship and thus paving the way for a comprehensive sustained and meaningful dialogue on all issues of mutual interest and concern. In all the meetings, the status of bilateral relations was reviewed and the importance of carrying forward the dialogue process with a view to resolving peacefully all outstanding issues was affirmed. India reiterated in all the discussions the need for Pakistan to fulfill its repeated assurances, including those given at the highest level, not to allow the use of territory under its control for terrorism directed against India and to bring to book the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack. It was agreed that increase in trade and economic engagement between the two countries would be mutually beneficial. It was also agreed that people-to-people contacts and humanitarian issues should be accorded priority and treated with sensitivity. The first round of the resumed dialogue was completed during March-July 2011.

Pakistan
Parliament Questions and Answers
South Asia