Zardari for greater regional cooperation against terrorism

The News, 12 June 2010,

TASHKENT: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday called for deeper regional cooperation against extremism and terrorism and vowed that Pakistan would continue to play its key role for greater peace and stability.

Addressing the 10th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) here at the capital of Uzbekistan, President Zardari said the regional countries must also join hands to address the root causes that lead to acts of violence and terrorism. He said terrorism stemmed from abject poverty and it was vital that it was addressed by creating economic activity and employment generation, so that the people on the fringes of extremism are lured to productive tasks. President Zardari said Pakistan’s contribution to counter terrorism was unmatched.

“We are determined to eliminate this menace,” he said and added Pakistan was engaged in counter terrorism. President Zardari pointed out that narco-money was being used to fund terrorist activities and called for greater collaboration to stem it. “We are determined to reinforce regional efforts to deal with the menace of illegal drugs and trafficking in narcotics,” he added.

The president said Pakistan was confronting terrorism and extremism with a resolve to rid its soil. He called for increased collaboration between Pakistan and the SCO’s Business Council and the Inter Bank Consortium to boost trade and commercial ties. He said that it would bring in more development and progress besides greater economic stability.

“We can also provide a land bridge for energy-transport and developing a win-win situation,” he said and pointed out that Pakistan, owing to its strategic position, provides shortest and fastest trade corridors to link the Central Asian Republics to the rest of the world for partners in the SCO.

President Zardari said increased trade and commercial activities in the region could bring about a positive change in the lives of its people. “We also look forward to joining the planned SCO information superhighway,” he said.

Pakistan believes in further increasing the regional cooperation through the platform of SCO, he said and added it desires to be associated more closely in the fields of economy, trade, finance, transport, customs and communications.

President Zardari also extended full support to Afghanistan to help it fight extremism and in its reconstruction efforts. He said the law and order situation in Afghanistan was having a negative impact on the entire region and Pakistan would continue to assist Afghanistan in its efforts in national reconstruction and development.

“We support the ongoing efforts of President Hamid Karzai and his government to promote reconciliation, peace and stability in Afghanistan.” He also extended support to the SCO’s stance towards Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

President Asif Ali Zardari also presented a powerful case for inclusion of Pakistan into the SCO fold and said Pakistan was the gateway to the landlocked Central Asian Republics with historical and cultural links that span centuries. He said Pakistan was a natural member to the SCO and it would further boost the people to people contacts, bring more stability and enhance trade and economic ties in the region.

He voiced the hope that the approved criteria would enable the SCO to accept Pakistan’s request for membership at an early date. “Pakistan’s strategic priority is development. We seek regional peace and stability, and desire friendly, cooperative and good neighbourly relations with all states.”

According to him, in a short period of time, the SCO has grown into an impressive regional grouping for peace, cooperation and development and a platform to transform ties into a partnership for peace and common prosperity.

Earlier, the SCO summit approved a series of documents, including the Tashkent Declaration, the SCO Rules of Procedure, and the regulation on procedure for future membership expansion.

The SCO members agreed in the Tashkent Declaration to further enhance cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, illegal drug trade and organised transnational crime.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov, in his opening speech, stressed the need for strengthening political and economic cooperation and stepping up anti-terrorism efforts to secure peace and stability among the SCO countries.

Chinese President Hu Jintao in his address called for strengthening cooperation among the member states of the SCO. He urged new cooperation models and proposed ways to identify non-resource sectors as a new priority for economic cooperation. He said China would provide $10 billion for undertaking of projects in the SCO countries.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for setting up a special fund to complete projects in member countries of the SCO. He pledged to take forward the spirit of the SCO and specially mentioned the need for peace, progress and stability in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

India’s External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said his country would continue to play a positive role in Afghanistan and Central Asian States. He stressed the need for increasing in trade among countries in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran for its peaceful nuclear programme but on the other hand nothing was done against the country that fired upon and killed people on board the ship carrying humanitarian goods for Gaza which was facing blockade.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said terrorism and extremism were curses for Afghanistan and people of his country were facing the menace with bravery and courage. ìNow Afghans are thinking that the business of terrorism should end from their country,î he remarked.

The SCO also inked two agreements — one between the SCO governments to enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture, and the second for cooperation in combating crime. President Asif Ali Zardari and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov had a bilateral meeting and discussed the matters of mutual interest. During the meeting held here on the sidelines of the 10th Summit of the SCO, the two leaders exchanged views on matters relating to bilateral ties, situation in the region as well as the matters of international importance.

On the bilateral front, President Zardari said $40 million annual trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan does not commensurate with the warm and close ties that exist between the two countries and needs to be enhanced through mutual efforts and measures such as the signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Strained ties with EU

Dawn Editorial, 12 June 2010,

WHAT next for Pakistan’s relations with the European Union? Life in Brussels and Islamabad has, of course, moved on after last week’s disappointingly lacklustre EU-Pakistan summit. The EU, in a bid to improve its global standing, is struggling to come up with an effective policy for ending the blockade of Gaza; discussions also focus on sanctions on Iran and the bloc’s own internal economic problems.

In Pakistan, it’s more of the same: denial by Islamabad of allegations in a new Amnesty International report that nearly four million people are living under Taliban rule in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt; a deadly attack near Islamabad on a Nato convoy and more drone attacks.

Given the need to tackle more urgent business, both Pakistan and the EU could be tempted to take their plans for further dialogue and engagement off the front burner. That is not a good idea. The EU must work harder to step up its relations with an important South Asian nation. Pakistan, for its part, needs EU aid, markets and also expertise in political and economic reform.

EU-Pakistan ties are not at their best at the moment. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton did not attend the meeting, effectively delivering an unexpected snub to Pakistan. The summit did not deliver on trade, leaving Pakistan smarting over the EU decision not to give it early access to the zero-tariff scheme known as GSP Plus.

Relations between the two sides have become strained even further following a tense exchange between EU and Pakistani diplomats on Islamabad’s failure to provide adequate protection to religious minorities at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council. Pakistan reportedly counter-attacked by accusing Europeans of hypocrisy and double standards and denouncing alleged human rights violations by the EU.

Such exchanges might make Islamabad and its beleaguered envoys feel better at a time when the country has been sorely embarrassed by the tragic attacks on Ahmadis and the general atmosphere of intolerance and discrimination against minorities that is building up across Pakistan.

But surely — unless you are from North Korea, Zimbabwe or Myanmar — diplomacy is about making friends and influencing people.

Islamabad should take time to reflect on how best to engage with the EU. As Sajjad Karim, the only British-Pakistani member of the European Parliament, has said, Pakistan should do much more to engage all EU member states and institutions, with a special focus on developing and maintaining better relations with the increasingly powerful EU assembly.

“Many years have been lost and several more will now be taken up in trying to regain ground, but even then only if Pakistan is serious about its relationship with the EU,” said Mr Karim.

Such constructive criticism should be taken to heart and Islamabad should replace its culture of ‘entitlement’ in dealing with the EU — and even more with America — with a more realistic and objective assessment of why even some of the country’s best friends are becoming increasingly exasperated.

Despite its inability to deliver on GSP Plus as quickly as Pakistan would have liked, the European Commission is committed to fast-tracking the GSP review procedure so that Pakistani textiles can become eligible for zero tariff market access as rapidly as possible. There is recognition that Pakistani exporters are losing out to other Asian competitors — but also frustration that the country has not worked on diversifying its exports and trading partners and is not better prepared for increased global competition.

The EU will host a ministerial meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan on Oct 14-15, bringing together key international and bilateral donors to discuss the country’s energy problems and ways of bolstering development in Malakand. Although no marriage is in view at the end of the process, the ‘five-year engagement plan’ agreed at the summit commits both sides to working together on a range of key issues, including counter-terrorism.

However, more needs to be done. This time, the EU must really meet Pakistan’s demands for tariff-free market access for its textile exports.

Second, the EU must focus more on helping reform the country’s weak civilian institutions, including the judiciary and parliament. Political parties in Pakistan fight for democracy on the national arena but are dominated by feudals. The civil administration is in dire need of modernisation. Third, while aid from the European Commission and EU governments is increasing, the effectiveness of such assistance is hampered by patchy coordination and competition over projects. Fourth, the relationship needs serious political commitment from both sides. Global security concerns demand stronger EU-Pakistan engagement and deeper dialogue.

Pakistan has to be realistic and recognise that spin, however, sophisticated, does not make up for policy deficits. With its reputation for harbouring and training insurgents, sectarian violence, poor protection of human rights as well as discrimination against minorities, it is not easy to build a strong case for closer EU-Pakistan ties.

However, European policymakers are aware that despite the recent surge in extremist violence, the country is one of the largest moderate Muslim nations in the world, with strong ties across the Islamic bloc. They also know that Pakistan’s fragile democratic government needs international support to boost economic and social development, install the rule of law and correct years of military misrule.

Afghanistan cannot be stabilised without the active cooperation of Islamabad and of course Pakistan’s mostly fraught relations with India — both nuclear-armed nations — represent a quasi-permanent threat to global peace.

The EU has been slow in responding to these and other imperatives. Britain has taken a keen interest in pressing for stronger ties, but for many other EU member states, including France, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Italy and Poland, the focus is on the ‘threat’ posed by Pakistan’s textile exports to domestic European manufacturers rather than on efforts to bolster Pakistan’s fledgling democracy. Such views seriously erode Europe’s global reputation.

If the EU is to be taken seriously as a political and economic player in Asia, European governments will have to resist protectionism. Pakistan, in turn, will have to learn to deal with an increasingly complicated EU decision-making machinery, build coalitions and alliances in the European Commission, among member states and in the European Parliament. And press its case with tact and intelligence. There are no shortcuts. In this case, diplomacy is about the long haul.

Zardari calls for regional cooperation for stability

Dawn, 12 June 2010,

TASHKENT: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for regional cooperation against extremism and terrorism and said Pakistan would continue to play its key role for greater peace and stability.

Addressing the 10th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation here on Friday, President Zardari said countries in the region must also jointly address the root causes that led to acts of violence and terrorism.

He said that terrorism stemmed from abject poverty and it was imperative to address it by creating economic activity and generating employment so that people on the fringes of extremism were lured to productive tasks.

President Zardari said Pakistan’s contribution to counter-terrorism was unmatched.

He pointed out that narco-money was being used to fund terrorist activities and called for greater collaboration to stem it.

“We are determined to reinforce regional efforts to deal with the menace of illegal drugs and trafficking in narcotics.”

The president said Pakistan was confronting terrorism with a resolve to rid its soil of extremism.

He called for increased collaboration between Pakistan and the SCO’s Business Council and Inter Bank Consortium to boost trade and commercial ties. He said it would make way for further development and progress and greater economic stability.

He said that Pakistan, owing to its strategic position, provided the shortest and fastest trade corridors between the Central Asian Republics and the rest of the world.

President Zardari said increased trade and commercial activities in the region could bring about a positive change in the lives of its people.

“We also look forward to joining the planned SCO information superhighway,” he said.

He said the law and order situation in Afghanistan was having a negative impact on the entire region and Pakistan would continue to assist the government of Afghanistan in its efforts for national reconstruction and development.

The President supported the SCO stance on Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

President Zardari pleaded for inclusion of Pakistan into the SCO fold and said Pakistan was the gateway to the landlocked Central Asian Republics with historical and cultural links spanning centuries.

“Pakistan’s strategic priority is development. We seek regional peace and stability and desires friendly, cooperative and good neighbourly relations with all states.”

President Zardari and Chinese President Hu Jintao met here on Friday and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, situation in the region and issues of international importance.

There was commonality of views on various issues of regional and international importance.

The president also met his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov and discussed the threats posed to region by the menace of terrorism and extremism.

President Karimov appreciated Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices as a front-line state in the war against terrorism and assured full support and cooperation of his country in combating the menace which threatened peace in the whole region.

On Thursday, President Zardari met his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. They expressed satisfaction over the current level of engagement between Pakistan and Russia and hoped that cooperation between the two countries in various fields would gain further strength. —APP

Pakistan and India to get SCO membership

Dawn, 12 June 2010,

TASHKENT: A regional security organisation dominated by Russia and China agreed on Friday to open its doors to new members with the exception of Iran, recently slapped with sanctions over its nuclear programme.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) adopted the guidelines, seen as potentially allowing observer nations India and Pakistan to join, at its annual summit in the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hailed the new guidelines as “laying the foundation for expanding the SCO framework.”

But Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the leader of another SCO observer nation, Iran, stayed away from the summit after fresh sanctions were approved against the Islamic republic by the UN Security Council this week.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the newly adopted guidelines did not allow countries under UN sanctions to obtain membership.

“It is written very clearly that one of the criteria (for membership) is that it is necessary not to be under UN Security Council sanctions,” Mr Lavrov told reporters.

“If the Security Council has introduced sanctions, then that country cannot become a full member.”

Russia’s Kommersant newspaper reported that the provision was pushed through by Moscow and Beijing, which are unwilling to jeopardise their relations with the West because of Iran.

Analysts said approving the membership guidelines would not immediately bring in new SCO members since observer nations like India and Pakistan have testy ties and China has not yet signalled support for the group’s expansion.—AFP

Pakistan, Russia to up anti-terror cooperation

The News, 11 June  2010,

TASHKENT: President Asif Ali Zardari met his Russian and Chinese counterparts here on Thursday as Pakistan and Russia agreed to consolidate anti-terror cooperation.

In a meeting with his Russian counterpart, President Asif Ali Zardari stressed the need for consolidating cooperation in the war on terror. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to enhance cooperation to root out militancy and terrorism from the region.

The Russian president supported the inclusion of Pakistan in SCO since Pakistan is an important country in fight against terrorism and militancy.

President Zardari invited the Russian President to visit Pakistan, which he accepted. President Zardari will also be visiting Moscow next month.

President Zardari, who arrived here on Thursday, will address the summit on Friday (today).

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese President Hu Jintao had a meeting here on Thursday and discussed matters of mutual interest.

The two leaders, who met here on the sidelines of the 10th Summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), had a frank exchange of views on various issues of mutual interest.

The two sides also agreed to further deepen and strengthen their already existing multifaceted relations and cooperation in various fields for the mutual benefit of two countries.

Accord with China to secure common strategic interests

Dawn, 11 June  2010,

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have decided to work together to secure common strategic interests and review the situation developing in the region.

During meetings visiting Chinese Vice Prime Minister Zhang Dejiang held with Pakistan’s top military leadership, including Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majid and Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, on Thursday, views were exchanged on regional security, defence cooperation and other matters of common interest.

Mr Dejiang and members of his delegation, accompanied by Chinese Ambassador Lou Zhaohui, called on General Tariq at Joint Staff Headquarters.

General Tariq said that Pak-China relations which now spanned nearly six decades had remained unshaken and become a shining example of cordial and cooperative coexistence between neighbours.

He reiterated Pakistan’s support on the core interests of China.

General Tariq stressed the need for jointly reviewing the evolving scenarios and developing common approaches to secure common strategic and economic interests. He also called for strengthening economic and trade linkages through improved connectivity by developing transportation, communication and energy corridors.

Mr Dejiang thanked Pakistan for standing by its Chinese brethren after the tragic earthquake in Quinghai province and its support for ‘one China Policy’ at all international forums. He reiterated that China would continue its support for Pakistan in various fields.

Extraneous factors not to hurt Sino-Pak ties: Gilani

The News, 10 June 2010,

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan would never allow any extraneous factors to affect the vital relationship between Islamabad and Beijing.

During one-on-one meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang prior to bilateral talks at the PM House here on Wednesday, the prime minister thanked China for its steadfast support and solidarity.

The prime minister said Pakistan values its relations with China based on complete trust, mutual understanding and convergence of views on all bilateral, regional and international issues.

Gilani appreciated the Chinese assistance in construction of infrastructure projects, particularly extension of credit in setting up of the Chashma Nuclear Power Plants, to overcome the energy shortage. He hoped that this cooperation would further expand.

Pakistan and China signed five agreements on concessional loan for PAKSAT I-R project, cooperation in port construction and port-management-training, cooperation in information technology, China-Pakistan cable system construction and maintenance and contract agreements for engineering, procurement and construction of works for the Darawat Dam project. These agreements were signed at an impressive ceremony held at the PM House in the presence of Prime Minister Gilani and the visiting Chinese Vice Premier, Zhang Deijang.

The Chinese vice premier thanked the prime minister for very warm welcome accorded to him and his delegation during his visit to Pakistan. He conveyed greetings from the Chinese prime minister to his Pakistani counterpart. Dejiang said Pakistan occupies an important place in the Chinese foreign policy and Beijing values its partnership with the government and the people of Pakistan.

Later in bilateral talks with Chinese vice premier, Prime Minister Gilani said China’s support for Pakistan’s security, stability and economic development is a source of strength. He said President Asif Ali Zardari would be visiting China next month and is expected to meet President Hu Jintao in Tashkent on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. He expressed the hope that exchange of high-level visits this year would provide further impetus to our expanding partnership.

He said Pakistan strictly adheres to “One-China Policy” and fully supports China’s principled position on the return of Taiwan to the motherland. Islamabad regards Tibet as an inalienable integral part of China and is firmly opposed to any attempts to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said both countries are committed to fight the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism and mentioned in the same context that “we unequivocally condemn ETIM and assure China of our complete cooperation in countering and defeating it”.He said Pakistan would like a Chinese technical team to evaluate the situation of the Karakoram Highway, in the wake of creation of the Attabad Lake, for its urgent restoration.

He said the Gwadar port will provide an optimal trade route for China, Pakistan and the Central Asian States after completion of Havelian-Khungrab rail link.About the regional situation, Gilani said establishment of durable peace and respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Afghanistan is a prerequisite for peace and stability of Pakistan.

The Chinese vice premier while reciprocating the feelings expressed by the prime minister said the growth of relations between Pakistan and China are very clear and visible. He greatly appreciated Pakistan’s role as a frontline state against terrorism. In wake of the economic loss to Pakistan in fighting the war against terror, he assured that China would extend unilateral concessions to Pakistan in trade and commerce.

Good ties with Pakistan in India’s interests: Singh

The News, 8 June 2010,

SLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said ìwe wish to carry forward the dialogue process in the regionî.

Addressing the convocation at the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology on Monday, the Indian prime minister said meaningful talks with Pakistan could lead to resolution of “old issues” and were in India’s interests. Without naming Pakistan, Singh said it should help in creating an

environment in which people from both sides of the LoC could live in peace and harmony and work together. Singh arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to review the security situation and inspect development projects.

Singh said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had assured him that Pakistan’s soil would not be used against India. Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh repeated an offer of talks to the Kashmiri separatists, who shun violence, seeking peace in the restive region.

Indian troops have been “strictly instructed” to respect human rights in Kashmir, Manmohan Singh said. Hardline separatists called a general strike to protest against Singh’s visit, which comes amid heightened tensions since the killing of three civilians in April by the military.

The strike closed shops, schools, offices and banks in Srinagar and other towns in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley. “Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have been strictly instructed to respect human rights of the civilians,” Singh said.

“We will act to remove any deficiency in the implementation of those instructions,” he said. Roads leading to the conference venue in Srinagar were closed, with thousands of soldiers and paramilitary troopers deployed in the area.

Singh said New Delhi was ready to hold talks with Kashmiris “who are against violence.” He was referring to moderate separatists who have held several rounds of talks with New Delhi in the past but oppose further negotiations until tough security laws are repealed, troops withdrawn from civilian areas and human rights respected.

Composite dialogue can resolve issues: Gilani

Dawn, 8 June 2010,

QUETTA: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that all issues with India, including Kashmir, terrorism and water, can be resolved through ‘composite dialogue’.

Speaking at the Command and Staff College at a ceremony held here on Monday to mark the completion of a course, he said: “Pakistan seeks negotiated and peaceful resolution of all disputes with India.”

He said the Indian leadership had agreed to resume composite dialogue on all controversial issues.

He said Pakistan believed in having peaceful relations with all neighbouring countries.

Referring to the US-India civil nuclear deal, he said Pakistan was justified in demanding a non-discriminatory US policy.

The prime minister said Pakistan valued long-term strategic relations with the US. “We have held dialogue with the US government on strategic issues.”

He said the country’s friendly ties with China were becoming stronger.

Replying to a question, he said Pakistan was part of efforts being made to improve the situation in Afghanistan. He said the country had been looking after over 3.5 million Afghan refugees.

“We extended cooperation and technical support to the Afghan government in building the Afghan National Army and police.” He said the government had been giving scholarship to 2,000 Afghan youths.

The prime minister stressed the need for Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to brief politicians and parliamentarians on challenges related to militancy and other security issues. He said that millions of people had been affected by terrorism and extremism.

“It is the need of the hour to resolve this issue with a progressive approach and tolerance.” He said that all stakeholders and agencies had been working together against militancy.

He said success of the military action against terrorists in Malakand, Swat and Wazirstan had been globally acknowledged. He said the government was giving priority to restoring peace in those areas because the society had been attacked by militants.

“I am proud that the people of Malakand, Swat and Wazirstan fully cooperated with the government in the action against militancy,” he said.

“I am a supporter of a free judiciary, free media and professional military,” he said, adding that the world would not support any undemocratic action.

The chief of the army staff was also present.

A softer line

Dawn Editorial, 7 June 2010,

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna reiterated his country’s desire for dialogue with Pakistan to resolve outstanding issues during his recent visit to Washington. This is in keeping with India’s changed, softer line towards this country. But the fact that Mr Krishna chose to make these remarks in the US capital suggests that Washington is gently nudging New Delhi to keep lines of communication open with Islamabad. The minister made the remarks at a reception attended by President Obama. In keeping with standard practice the American president chose not to publicly comment on Pakistan and India’s bilateral relations. But a senior State Department official has confirmed Pakistan featured in the US-India strategic dialogue. India has long rejected ‘outside’ mediation concerning its relations with Pakistan, yet all signals indicate the Indians are listening to what the Americans have to say.

The call for dialogue was coupled with the familiar mantra for Pakistan to do more to tackle terror. Particular Indian concerns — supported by the US — include progress in the trial of the 2008 Mumbai attacks’ suspects and action against Pakistan-based militant outfits that might target India. Without naming Pakistan, Mr Krishna claimed that the “epicentre” of terror lies in “India’s neighbourhood.” While efforts by anyone to help forge peace between Pakistan and India are welcome, both nations must realise that ultimately, they need to sort out their problems themselves. There is no doubt that Pakistan needs to take action against terror outfits active on its territory. But considering the amorphous and unpredictable nature of the enemy, the peace process must continue even if efforts are made to sabotage it.

India should realise that peace with Pakistan is in its interest. With a home-grown, increasingly brutal Maoist insurgency raging within, India needs to maintain good relations with all its neighbours in order to deal with its internal security issues. July 15, when the Indian external affairs minister is due in Islamabad for talks with his Pakistani counterpart, is some weeks away. The regional geo-political situation may well take strange twists and turns in the intervening period. It is hoped that the desire for peace and dialogue is just as strong when Mr Krishna lands in Islamabad.