India-Pakistan Talks began

Dhaka, July 31 (UNI) Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and his Pakistan counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan began talks here tonight on bilateral issues including recent bomb blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar.

The talks began at Hotel Sheraton at about 11:30 pm (BST).

Earlier talking to journalists, Shyam Saran said peace process between India and Pakistan could proceed in an atmosphere free from violence and terrorism. All bilateral issues will be discussed at the meeting, he added.

The India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-level meeting scheduled for July 21 in New Delhi was postponed following preemptive bloody bomb blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar on July 11.

Saran noted that India has all along stated that the peace process could move forward without violence and terrorism.

Each time there is a major terrorist attack or violence, whether it is in Jammu and Kashmir or in other parts of India, it undermines the public opinion and support required for the peace process to move ahead.

He said,