Indian foreign minister arrives in Pakistan for talks

Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna arrived in Pakistan Friday for talks on efforts aimed at normalizing relations between the two countries, dpa cited state-run Pakistan television as reporting. During a three-day visit, Krishna will meet with his counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar on September 8, and later they will co-chair a meeting of the India-Pakistan Joint Commission to increase cooperation, a Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman said. The two sides revived talks in 2011 after India cancelled a more than 5-year-old peace dialogue after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Diplomats said that the two sides would review the peace process and discuss issues like terrorism, Kashmir, trade and a possible agreement on visa liberalization. These talks are to be preceded by a meeting of the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India on Friday to finalize the agenda of talks between the foreign ministers. Other issues likely to figure are confidence-building measures, the release of prisoners as well as trade and border issues. 'India is of the view that normalization of relations between India and Pakistan should be a step-by-step process. My visit to Pakistan is one more step in that direction and approach,' Krishna said at a press briefing this week. Krishna, who last visited Pakistan in July 2011, is also expected to meet Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and President Asif Ali Zardari. He will spend a few hours in Lahore Sunday on the way back when he is expected to meet political, business and civil society leaders.