Krishna hints at next secretary-level talks in Islamabad

New Delhi, March 15 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Monday hinted that the next foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan will be held in Islamabad and called for a "step-by-step" engagement with the neighbouring country.

"The foreign secretary of Pakistan came here for the talks. So, perhaps it is the turn of Indian foreign secretary to go to Pakistan. So, let us move step by step," Krishna said on the sidelines of the India-Africa conclave here.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken an initiative in good faith to hold foreign secretary-level talks with Islamabad," he told reporters when asked about the course of engagement between India and Pakistan.

Krishna's remarks came amid speculation that Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will travel to Islamabad towards the end of this month or early next month.

Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir held talks here Feb 25 during which the Indian side gave three dossiers linking elements in Pakistan to various terror attacks in India and asked Pakistan to create a climate of trust by addressing Indian concerns over cross-border terror.

The meeting ended without a breakthrough, with India making it clear that the time was not yet ripe for resuming the composite dialogue. But the two sides agreed to remain in touch.

India paused the composite dialogue with Pakistan after November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attack that was orchestrated by Pakistan-based militants.

Krishna, however, remained non-committal when asked about the possibilities of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani in Washington in April on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit. "Keep speculating," was all he would say.