Krishna 'sceptical' over outcome of Indo-Pak meeting

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today said he was "sceptical" about the outcome of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the absence of Pakistan acting against perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.      

Krishna also asked the US to be more "circumspect" in providing aid to Pakistan, which was being diverted for use against India.      

Ahead of his meeting with Qureshi on Sept 27, Krishna said he was "sceptical" about its outcome, maintaining that only "sincerity and seriousness" on the part of Pakistan would provide a "sound backdrop" for a meaningful dialogue.      

He said unless Pakistan government shows "seriousness and sincerity" in going after the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks, an "atmosphere of trust" cannot be created between the two countries.      

"I don't think an atmosphere of trust would have been created between India and Pakistan to proceed with a meaningful dialogue. In the absence of that I am sceptical about it," he told NDTV.      

He said everything depended on what Pakistan does between now and when the two foreign ministers meet. On India's concerns over Pakistan misusing American aid against it, Krishna said, "It will be my endeavour to impress upon Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that at least from hereafter the US need to be circumspect in their aid which is provided to Pakistan".    

The US has given a whopping over $7 billion in aid to Pakistan since the 9/11 attacks in America to fight terrorism and India has been concerned about the assistance being used against it.      

Confirming India's fears, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf recently admitted that he had violated the rules governing the use of the military aid, but justified his action saying he had "acted in the best interest of Pakistan".