THE foreign secretary level talks between India and Pakistan entrusted with the task to bridge the trust deficit failed to evolve a comprehensive mechanism with Pakistan unwilling to concede any ground.

This was the first round of talks after the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani had initiated the move to come closer and had nearly two months back had directed their foreign ministers and foreign secretaries to meet and work out the modalities of restoring trust between the two countries. Though Mr Salman Bashir reiterated the rhetoric of his government that it would not allow space to the terrorists, at no stage he was categorical. The efforts of Ms Nirupama Rao and Mr Bashir to find ways to bridge the trust deficit and prepare the ground for a meeting of the foreign ministers on July 15 proved futile. Ironically the one to one meeting between the two bureaucrats ended without a joint statement. The Pakistani intentions not to commit were clearly manifest in its demand to insulate the peace process between India and Pakistan from the spectre of a terror attack. It was an absurd proposition. How could India sacrifice its national interest? In sharp contrast Mr Bashir during the meeting harped on the Kashmir issue demanding reduction of troops in the state and release of Kashmiri leaders. Pakistan should have refrained from interfering in the internal affairs of India. The Union Home Minister, Mr P Chidambaram is in Pakistan to attend the SAARC home ministers meet. He is expected to press for speedy trial of the Pakistani accused of planning the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack. This will provide second opportunity to the Pakistan government to come clean. The onus of bridging the trust deficit lies on Pakistan. It should do away with the veil of secrecy and eliminate the atmosphere of mistrust and it can achieve this by smashing the terror camps along the LoC and not allowing the terrorists to use its land to operate against India. Unless Pakistan initiates comprehensive action against terrorists and terrorism such a meeting would prove to be a futile exercise.