Thaindian News

Attari (Punjab), July 25 (IANS) Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir Monday said his country would cooperate with India in the investigation into the recent blasts in Mumbai.

Accompanied by his wife en route to New Delhi where he will hold talks with his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao Tuesday, Bashir at this international border check-post said he was hopeful that the foreign minister-level talks between both countries beginning Wednesday would bring good results.

“Pakistan was the first to condemn the blasts in Mumbai. We can feel the pain of the victims of these blasts. Pakistan has always raised voice against terrorism and we are ready to cooperate with India in the investigation of these blasts,” he told reporters after entering India to a warm welcome through the Wagah-Attari border check-post, 30 km from Amritsar.

He made it clear that Kashmir will be an issue for discussion during the talks of the foreign ministers.

“This is going to be a full spectrum dialogue and both nations are expected to talk on a wide range of issues. All important issues will be discussed and we hope that the best of results come out,” Bashir said, adding that he was happy to have come for the talks.

Refusing to be drawn into the controversy over the voice samples sought by India of those responsible for 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Bashir said that matter concerned the internal ministry in Pakistan.

Referring to the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Premier Yusuf Raza Gilani at Thimphu and Mohali where they decided to take forward the dialogue process, Bashir said: “Yes, Thimphu and Mohali spirit will certainly help. I think there is no trust deficit so far as the leadership level is concerned.”

“What we call the trust deficit has to be more clearly understood. I think, basically, the effort is to actually build greater understanding. Instead of saying trust deficit, I would say deepening of understanding,” he said.

He also said that Islamabad would convey to New Delhi that Pakistan had no role in the violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Pakistan’s new Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, 34, are to meet Wednesday. Khar, Pakistan’s youngest and first woman foreign minister, arrives in India Tuesday for the talks.