India, Pakistan PMs hold talks in Bhutan

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L) shakes hands with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani during their meeting in Thimphu, capital of Bhutan, on April 29, 2010. Photo: Xinhua

India and Pakistan took a significant step toward resuming their frozen peace dialogues Thursday as their prime ministers held direct talks for the first time in nine months.

During the discussions in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu, meetings that both sides described as positive, the two leaders agreed that their respective foreign ministers would meet soon to draw up a road map for future talks.

The officials would work out "the modalities of restoring trust and confidence in the relationship and thus paving the way for a substantive dialogue on all issues of mutual concern," Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the decision not to restrict the agenda of future talks was "a step in the right direction."

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Yousuf Raza Gilani, met for 90 minutes on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit underway in Thimphu.

India broke off peace talks with Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 that left 166 people dead.

During the talks with Gilani, Rao said the Indian prime minister was "very emphatic that Pakistan has to act, that the terror machine needs to be controlled, needs to be eliminated."

The last time Singh and Gilani sat down together was in July.

Observers believe the decision to talk in Thimphu was forced in part by the annoyance of other SAARC members, who feel that Indo-Pakistan tensions have all too often blocked the organization's efforts to foster regional cooperation.

That sense of frustration was voiced Tuesday by SAARC's smallest member, the Maldives, whose president, Mohammed Nasheed, broke with protocol, which traditionally precludes public mention of bilateral disputes.

"I hope neighbors can find ways to compartmentalize their differences while finding ways to move forward," Nasheed said in his speech at the summit's opening.

AFP