Indo-Pak foreign secy-level talks tomorrow

At the talks marking launch of fifth round of composite dialogue, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and his Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir will also discuss various cross-LoC confidence building measures (CBMs), including launch of truck service and more bus services.     

The main focus of the talks will be peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and CBMs but other issues like prisoner release, visa relaxation, trade and commerce will also figure in the discussions.     

Terrorism is expected to be the dominant theme of the talks in the backdrop of increase in infiltration attempts and terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.     

India is also upset over the suicide attack at its embassy in Kabul earlier this month, which is believed to have been carried out by Taliban in league with Pakistan's ISI.      Bashir, who arrived for talks today, said Pakistan wants "peaceful atmosphere on both sides".     

New Delhi is keen to take forward its ties with Islamabad but insists that it is premised on three factors, including creation of an atmosphere free of violence which involves action by Pakistan against terrorists based in that country.     

India believes that all issues that "divide" the two countries need to be resolved peacefully in an atmosphere free of violence and terrorism.