Take credible actions to resume dialogue: Menon

India has reiterated that to get back to business as usual with Pakistan is not possible until some concrete actions are taken by Pakistan against the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks as both India and Pakistan had entered entirely a “new phase of relations” since the Mumbai attacks.

Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon met his Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in an informal meeting on the sidelines of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Standing Committee in Colombo on Thursday, and said that Pakistan has shown some forward movement in countering terrorism and some positive actions have been taken but they have a long way to go.

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Resumption of dialogue is not possible till Pakistan brings the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice and act decisively against dismantling of terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, Menon told Bashir, who stressed on the continuation of composite dialogue.

“As far as resumption of composite dialogue is concerned, we have to see whether there is a real movement forward on eliminating terrorism. Our goal is to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai attack to justice,” the Indian Foreign Secretary told reporters, adding, “We have paused the composite dialogue and officials talks have been put on hold post-Mumbai attacks.”

He, however, said that India has no quarrel with the people of Pakistan. And so, trade and travel links between the two countries have not been affected.

Menon said, India does not doubt the sincerity of the civilian government in Pakistan, but we need to see what they can do to root out terrorism. We will judge them by their actions on ground.

Menon stated that Pakistan’s response to India’s dossier on Mumbai attacks was a positive step and we will respond to their queries, as Indian Foreign Minister and Home Minister have already said, after filing the charge sheet in Mumbai case.

Earlier on Thursday, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that Pakistan had to do much more for the resumption of composite dialogue, and that includes taking the ongoing probe to its logical conclusion and handing over Indian fugitives in Pakistan.