India, Pakistan talks to ease nuclear tensions

India and Pakistan are set to review nuclear-related confidence-building measures in talks scheduled for June 23 and 24 in Islamabad between the two countries' top diplomats, India's Hindu newspaper reported.

Though both sides do not expect major results and disagree on Kashmir and terrorism, the Hindu quoted sources in the Indian government as saying they believe a sustained dialogue process can narrow the trust deficit between the two nations.

India wants expectations from the talks to remain “realistic,” given the history and complexity of the ties, the paper said. “Dialogue is a process. We should not expect a decision. We should go step by step,” the Hindu quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

Meanwhile, sparring is already underway, as Pakistan has said publicly that it is not willing to discuss terrorism and will focus instead on the conflict over Kashmir, while India has said that the issue of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks — which recent testimony from confessed conspirator David Headley has linked to Pakistan's intelligence agency — remains unresolved.

“We will cover all issues of interest, especially that of terror,” the Hindu's diplomatic sources said, refuting Pakistani suggestions that the Mumbai attacks not be aired at the talks between the two countries foreign secretaries because the bureaucrats responsible for law and order were addressing the issue.