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Sir Creek: India confident of progress

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: India is confident that meaningful agreements on Sir Creek and the Siachen could be reached with Pakistan, according to Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shivshankar Menon.

In a presentation on `India and Pakistan: The Opportunity,' made at the English Speaking Union, Lahore, on Friday, Mr. Menon qualified his statement with the observation that progress on the two subjects was possible "if all concerned are willing to accept ground realities" and take the long-term view of history and destiny.

The optimism exuded by Mr. Menon on the two contentious issues assumes importance as India and Pakistan are scheduled to have a third round of dialogue on the subjects in the third and fourth week of May in New Delhi.

There have been suggestions in the media and Track II circles that a breakthrough on the Siachen and Sir Creek could facilitate the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan. An invitation from Pakistan to Dr. Singh for a visit to Pakistan has been pending.

Separately, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said here that Pakistan expected progress on the Siachen at the third round of talks. "We have already had two substantive rounds of dialogue and we hope to move forward in the next round," she said.

She refused to comment on media reports that the Indian military has raised doubts on an understanding on the Siachen.

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