PM to meet Zardari, to raise terror issue

NEW DELHI: With a spurt in incidents of cross-border terrorism and infiltration, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to raise the issue with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari when they meet in New York next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
 
In what will be their first meeting after Zardari became President earlier this month, the two leaders are also expected to discuss some cross-LoC confidence building measures (CBMs), including launch of trade on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route.
 
Singh will be in New York on September 23 and 24.
 
Cross-border terrorism and infiltration are expected to figure prominently in the discussions, with Singh likely to underline that such activities need to cease to ensure conducive atmosphere for carrying on the dialogue process, sources said.
 
India has been concerned over the spurt in anti-India activities emanating from territories controlled by Pakistan and even said it had put a "strain" on the composite dialogue.
 
Indian leaders have been saying that Pakistan is supporting terror modules operating in this country and that Islamabad has extended its "hostility" beyond Kashmir.
 
"Militants are getting support from across the border and it is a fact...It is a matter of serious concern," Defence Minister A K Antony had said here a few days back.
 
Close on the heels of Antony's remarks, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Wednesday that "Pakistan is implacably opposed to India. While Kashmir appears to be the central issue of contention, Pakistan has taken its hostility beyond Kashmir and support terrorist activities and communal conflagrations in other parts of India".

Pakistan acknowledged on Thursday that there were "hiccups" in the peace process with India and said both countries have to "remain steadfast and keep moving in the right direction".
 
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the meeting between Zardari and Singh in New York will be crucial "because we have to continue to pursue the peace process which is in our mutual interest".
 
A Pakistani team of officials will visit Delhi to discuss Kashmir-related matters, including launch of cross-LoC trade, on September 22.
 
However, early launch of cross-LoC trade seems unlikely as Pakistan is showing reluctance in allowing a delegation of Chambers of Commerce of Muzaffarabad to visit Srinagar to discuss modalities for commerce with their counterparts.
 
Pakistan has not confirmed dates to India despite repeated reminders on the visit even though it claimed on Thursday it is "keen" to send the delegation of business leaders of PoK.