New York:
In the midst of speculation about an Indo-Pak bilateral in New York this week, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that any talks between the two countries needs to be "meaningful."
At this stage, Qureshi noted that a bilateral was still worked out, and Islamabad had sent "some suggestions" through diplomatic channels to New Delhi about these talks.
Without going to specific details about these "suggestions," Qureshi said that he was now awaiting a response from the Indian side.
"The talks can take place immediately if a positive response is received," the minister said, noting that any meeting should produce results.
Pointing to disputes over Kashmir, Siachen and water, Qureshi said, "How can Pakistan talk to India without these subjects being on the table."
Qureshi also refuted claims that Pakistan was putting conditions on India before holding talks. "The suggestions that we have made are aimed at making the talks meaningful," he said, underlining the need for "result-oriented, meaningful and substantive for the sake peace and stability."
The minister also noted that despite Krishna's last visit to Islamabad being dubbed as a failure, the talks had been constructive and meaningful.
The Indian side, meanwhile, maintains that it is ready to discuss all issues, but terrorism is the core issue on the table for India
"We intend to persevere with dialogue with Pakistan. In talks we intend to discuss all outstanding issues but we have concerns on terrorism and I don't think attention should be deflected from the issue of terror. We are waiting for Pakistan to fulfill its assurances that it will not promote terror against India. These are all parts of the whole agenda for discussions for with Pakistan," said Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.
Qureshi ran into Krishna at a meeting for Commonwealth ministers, organised on the sidelines of the General Assembly at the UN. They had another "chance encounter," last week, in the UN building.
Krishna told the Indian media that the ministers had indeed greeted each other.
Last week, Qureshi raised the issue of Kashmir several times in speeches he gave at public forums in New York. Both ministers, however, have spoken strongly in favour of talks as the only way forward.
"India wants to keep Pakistan engaged in talks because we do not see any other alternatives. Talks are the only way to take this forward," Krishna said on Friday.(With PTI inputs)