Issues including trade and commerce, water and terrorism will be topping the agenda of talks when foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan meet later this week.

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao accompanied by a high-level official delegation will leave for Islamabad on June 23 with ?an open and constructive approach? and with ?realistic? expectations, despite a naval row breaking out ahead of her meeting with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir on June 23-25.

Government sources in New Delhi said, ?We are going to Islamabad for the foreign secretaries-level meeting with an open and constructive approach to discuss all issues of mutual interest and concern, and to build upon the progress achieved in the past.?

?Given the histories and complexities of India-Pakistan relationship, we have realistic expectations,? the sources said.

The talks will also focus on all outstanding issues including Kashmir, peace and security and friendly exchanges between the two countries. Both sides will review all preceding meetings of various ministries. ?This will naturally cover all issues of mutual concern, especially the continuing threat posed by terrorists,? they said.

The sources said India was ?satisfied? with the earlier talks that began with the foreign secretaries? meeting in Thimphu in February this year. From February-May, meetings between their commerce secretaries, Indian home secretary and Pakistan?s interior secretary, defence secretaries on demilitarisation of Siachen glacier, apart from a meeting between Pakistan?s additional defence secretary and India?s surveyor general on Sir Creek maritime borders, were held.

?Dialogue is a process. It is not an event in itself. We should not expect quick and dramatic solutions to these complex and long-standing issues, but go step-by-step by narrowing the trust deficit, with understanding towards an eventual resolution of all outstanding issues through dialogue,? the sources said.

?Our concerns have not, in any way, diminished by the resumption of dialogue …through a dialogue you keep the chain of communication open… How can our concerns of terrorism not be addressed by us? Terrorism is central to our concerns,? the sources added.