Cricket fever not to blur focus on talks

NEW DELHI/ATTARI: Cricket diplomacy will have a bearing on the much awaited home secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan beginning on Monday. Though all pending issues will be raised as New Delhi does not want to lose focus amid the sudden turn of events, the emphasis is likely to be on taking some "quick steps" on both sides.

As the two-day talks will conclude a day before Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani lands in Mohali where he will meet PM Manmohan Singh, the mood in the home ministry is to take the dialogue forward with "ease" in the "friendly atmosphere". Officials, however, insist that the talks will be held without losing focus on key issues ranging from progress in 26/11 trial to terrorism to release of each other's prisoners and fishermen.

A top government official said, "One should not expect any tough posturing. We will raise all pending issues firmly and try to have positive assurance from other side. Only the follow-up action will tell us where we stand amid all these diplomatic gestures."

Pakistani interior secretary Qamar Zaman Chaudhary, who reached India via the Attari-Wagah border, said his meeting was aimed at promoting and strengthening peace between the two neighbours.