Tuesday, March 29, 2011

India, Pak come closer in terror co-operation

Pakistan has agreed to allow an Indian team to question the 2008 Mumbai terror attack suspects being prosecuted there as the home secretaries of the two countries Tuesday concluded their two-day talks on a positive note. They have also agreed to set up a "hotline" to share information about militants.

According to a joint statement issued at the end of the two-day talks, Pakistan has agreed to allow a team of Indian investigators to question some Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists who are presently lodged in a jail in that country.

The modalities and dates of the team's visit would be decided later, an official told IANS.

"Both sides agreed to set up a hotline between the home secretary of India and the interior secretary of Pakistan to facilitate real-time information sharing with respect to terrorist threats," said the statement.

Pakistan has agreed in principle to entertain commission from India on guidelines to be followed by both countries regarding their investigation into the Mumbai terror attack investigations.

Home Secretary G.K. Pillai and his Pakistani counterpart Qamar Zaman met in what is seen as a first step towards advancing the re-initiated peace process stalled after 10 Pakistani terrorists slaughtered 166 people in Mumbai in 2008, almost triggering an India-Pakistan war.

Among the issues the two sides discussed during the talks were the trial of the Mumbai terror suspects in Pakistan, the Samjhauta Express blasts probe, easing of visa norms, narcotics control and smuggling of fake Indian currency notes.

India provided details of the probe into the Samjhauta Express blasts to a team of Pakistani interior ministry officials.

ht

No comments: