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India undecided over next round of peace talks with Pakistan

15 July 2006, 18:00 PM
INTERNATIONAL
By Afp, New Delhi
India said yesterday it was still deciding whether to go ahead with high-level peace talks with Pakistan after claiming the Mumbai blasts were carried out with help from "across the border." The talks, slated for next Thursday in the Indian capital between top foreign ministry officials of both countries, were meant to review progress in a slow-moving peace process between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

But their fate has came under a cloud in the wake of Tuesday's blasts on commuter trains during evening rush hour that killed at least 181 people and wounded nearly 900 others.

"No decision has been taken (on the talks) one way or the other," foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told AFP.

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His statement followed an earlier Press Trust of India report quoting India's junior foreign minister Anand Sharma as saying "the talks will be held at an appropriate time".

Before the blasts, Islamabad had confirmed its participation in the talks but New Delhi had not announced any dates officially.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday the Mumbai attackers had support from "across the border" in a reference to Pakistan. He also warned that the talks could be harmed if Pakistan did not live up to a promise to curb "terrorism" directed against Indian targets.
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