NEW DELHI: Reports of opposition to resumption of the India-Pakistan dialogue even from within the Indian government have prompted External Affairs Minister SM Krishna to clarify

that the proposed talks between the Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries, scheduled for February 25, do not constitute a resumption of the composite dialogue between the two countries.

“The composite dialogues, they are suspended,” Krishna said in an interview telecast today. “Composite dialogues are suspended from the Indian point of view,” he said, clarifying that talks between the Foreign Secretaries would focus on terrorism as the core issue.

India was concerned about terrorist activities aimed at it and emanating from across the border and felt it was necessary to engage Pakistan in this very critical area, Krishna said.

“Hence we offered that the talks take place at the level of foreign secretaries. We do not know what issues the Pakistan Foreign Secretary is going to raise. The brief for our secretary is that terror is the centre and focus point of talks,” he said.

The government’s Cabinet Committee on Security, the highest decision-making body on security-related issues, met yesterday to finalise India’s brief at the talks.

The composite dialogue process, begun after the Islamabad SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit in 2004 comprised eight key components including Jammu and Kashmir, confidence-building measures, defence, trade and water-related issues that have plagued bilateral relations for decades.

Opposition parties led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have strongly criticised the proposed resumption of the India-Pakistan dialogue, particularly after Saturday’s bomb blast in Pune, saying terrorism and dialogue cannot coexist.

Referring to the Opposition’s criticism, Krishna said, “If there is a better suggestion in terms of alternative the government is willing to consider those alternatives.”

Civil society and the media remain divided on the way ahead in bilateral relations, and there are few expectations from next Thursday’s talks in New Delhi. Senior officials have said that India would go into the talks with an open mind and discuss all relevant issues related to peace and security in the region and terrorism emanating from Pakistan against India would be the major issue on the agenda for India. Pakistan has said, however, that it seeks a resumption of the composite dialogue process, with talks on J&K and water sharing issues.