New Delhi: India has postponed the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan. The decision has been communicated to Pakistan. India has told Pakistan that the two foreign secretaries will not be meeting any time soon and has not given new dates.
New Delhi is not just talking tough with Islamabad. CNN-IBN learns that the foreign ministry has leaned on MPs Sandeep Dixit and Brinda Karat to cancel their visit to Islamabad.
“I don’t represent the Government. It is my decision but I did feel a discomfort and I think that should be communicated to Pakistan,” Congress MP Sandeep Dixit said.
"It’s in a specific situation where such a brutal attack should take place, and if the government has concrete information about links of terrorists who are being trained in Pakistan,” said Brinda Karat.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will turn the heat on Pakistan at the upcoming G8 summit at St Petersburg. Linkages between Mumbai, London and Madrid bombings will be used to urge the world's rich and powerful to come down hard on terrorism. But words are not enough, according to India's top diplomat.
Manmohan Singh will attend the G-8 summit as an observer along with leaders of other important developing countries. He leaves for St Petersburg on Sunday.
Reflecting New Delhi's tough mood, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran made it clear that the international community needs to do much more to curb terror. The tough talks message is likely to be carried to the G8 Summit.
“As a result of the terrorist attacks it is becoming very difficult to take forward the peace process. There is zero tolerance for terrorism and Pakistan should honour its commitment to peace, " said Saran.
Saran said that 7/11 had outraged Indians and that negative public opinion had put a question mark on the peace process with Pakistan.
Saran added that India remains committed to the peace process but Pakistan must fulfill its commitment to curb terrorism.
Interestingly the Foreign Secretary did not officially conform that the talks with Pakistan were off. But he did send a clear message to Pakistan – that without terror, there can be no peace and that India had a zero tolerance for terror.
And that is the message the Prime Minister will take with him to the G8 summit.
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