No talk between Manmohan Singh and media at book release event in Delhi

Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh attended a book release function organised by the Ananta Aspen Centre at the WWF-India Auditorium here on Friday evening.

Dr. Singh was among the distinguished panel invited for the release of a book titled “The Making of Indian Diplomacy – A critique of euro-centrism”, which has been authored by Deep K. Datta-Ray, Assistant Professor at the Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA).

Dr. Singh, however, did not speak with the media at the event.

Former diplomat and special envoy to the Prime Minister Satinder K. Lambah used the occasion to mention that Dr. Singh only wanted a meeting between the national security advisers of India and Pakistan to take place only after the satisfactory conclusion of the Mumbai terror attack trial in Pakistan.

The release of the book assumes significance in the wake of India and Pakistan agreeing to let their national security advisers meet in New Delhi at the earliest, suggesting that there could be forward movement on the bilateral dialogue process.

As per the joint statement issued on Friday after talks between the two Prime Ministers in Ufa, Russia, the national security advisers have reportedly been asked to discuss all terrorism-related issues.