Krishna confirms meeting with Qureshi in Islamabad on July 15

New Delhi/Islamabad, May 11 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Tuesday confirmed that he will be visiting Islamabad on July 15 for talks with his Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Addressing media ahead of his three-day visit to Kazakhstan, Krishna said: "I had a telephonic conversation with the foreign minister of Pakistan. This was a follow-up for the meeting of our two prime ministers'in Thimphu, where it was decided that the Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries will work out a methodology as to how the dialogue between both the countries can be carried out, so that all outstanding issues can be discussed in an atmosphere of mutual trust."

The call for resuming talks at the foreign ministers level came from Qureshi this morning.

Addressing the media in Islamabad, Qureshi said all issues would be discussed with Krishna, and Islamabad would not hesitate to present its stated positions on all issues bedevilling bilateral ties.

"Don't expect miracles overnight. It is an uphill task. The two foreign secretaries will meet on the sidelines of the SAARC conference to do the ground work for the foreign ministers meeting which will take place on July 15. I will be visiting New Delhi after the Islamabad meeting at a mutually convenient date for the next round of talks," he said.

"Recognising that this is a very important engagement and step forward in our bilateral relations, I have decided to undertake a number of steps for preparation, consultations and national consensus building on some very sensitive issues that are outstanding between India and Pakistan," he added. (ANI)