Resumption of Indo-Pak parley will be key topic in Thimpu: Experts

Islamabad, Feb 6(ANI): Indian and Pakistani experts have said the focus of the foreign secretary-level talks on the sidelines of a SAARC meeting in Thimpu, Bhutan will be on ways to resume the stalled dialogue.

"Thimphu is essentially about discussing the resumption of dialogue process. The two Foreign Secretaries need to work out an agreed format for the dialogue process, which can then be resumed in a meaningful manner paving the way for the forthcoming Foreign Minister-level talks in Delhi and eventually a summit in the near future," Jinnah Institute, Islamabad, quoted former Pakistan Ambassador to India Aziz A Khan, as saying.

Another Pakistan envoy Humayun Khan urged both countries to downscale their immediate objectives in an attempt to resume the stalled dialogue process.

"At present, the vital thing is to restore the dialogue. India should not make Mumbai a brick wall that must first be removed. Pakistan should not insist that the dialogue must be "result oriented." Once they start talking to each other again, these problems will have to be addressed," he said.

Former Indian Ambassador to Pakistan Gopalaswami Parthasarathy said the Thimpu meet could be regarded as a success "if rhetoric is avoided and an agreement is reached on resuming dialogue at a political level. Experience has shown that long joint press conferences after meetings end in disaster and should be avoided."

"The only way forward on this score is to ensure that non-state actors with or without state support cease to destabilize the relationship. Moreover, we have to ensure that we celebrate our successes together, promote economic cooperation that facilitates each other's progress and stop gloating about the discomfiture or dilemmas of the other side," he added.

Dipankar Banerjee, Director of Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi, said too much faith or expectations should not be based on a single sideline meeting, as sustained efforts are required to resume a continuing and uninterrupted dialogue.

"The three issues I recommend we focus on are: nuclear confidence-building measures, resolving the Jammu and Kashmir conundrum and addressing terrorism in South Asia," he added. (ANI)