India puts off peace talks with Pakistan

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government Chairperson and Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi (L) greets Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (R) in New Delhi yesterday prior to his departure to Russia for attending the G-8 Summit. PHOTO: AFP

The foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan were scheduled for July 21, but it was postponed suspecting Pakistan's link with the Mumbai train blasts that left 200 people dead.

The secretary-level meeting was a part of the ongoing peace process started by the two countries in January 2004. Fresh dates for resuming negotiations would be fixed through diplomatic channels, an official of Indian External Affairs Ministry said.

Saran said it was difficult to take the Indo-Pak peace process forward because of the adverse public opinion against Pakistan in India after the Mumbai blasts.

He said positive public opinion was needed to carry on with the peace process with Pakistan and it was missing at this point of time.

In seeking postponement of the foreign secretary-level talks, India however made it clear that it was not calling off the peace process with Pakistan.

There has been widespread public anger over the terror attacks in Mumbai trains on July 11 and India suspects Pakistani hand in the incidents.

Manmohan Singh, who was in Mumbai three days after the blasts, had also said it is difficult to normalise ties with Pakistan if acts of terrorism from across the border are not stopped.

In a statement to the media on the eve of his departure, Singh said "terrorism is a scourge that continues to afflict different parts of the world and the tragic human cost that this entails was brought forth once again by the recent attacks in Mumbai and Srinagar."

"We will impress upon the leaders gathered at the G-8 Summit that the international community must adopt an approach of zero-tolerance for terrorism anywhere," he added.

"The international community must isolate and condemn terrorists wherever they attack, whatever their cause and whichever country or group provides them sustenance and support", the Indian prime minister said.

During his three-day visit to the Russian city to attend the summit of Group of 8 countries, Singh will meet US President George W Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders.

At the summit, the Indian prime minister will make a strong pitch for a "coordinated, unambiguous and global response" to terrorism in the wake of the Mumbai blasts, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters here on the eve of the visit.