news details |
|
|
| Home Secretaries of India,Pakistan begin talks | | Delhi raises concerns about terrorist infiltration in J&K | |
BL KAK
NEW DELHI, JULY 3: India on Tuesday raised concerns about escalating terrorist infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir across the Line of Control (LoC) as the Home Secretaries of India and Pakistan began a two-day meeting in New Delhi. This apart, the Indian delegation pressed Pakistan to follow up on leads the government of India had provided into investigation of the July 2006 Mumbain train blasts, which were blamed on Pakistan-based terrorists and which killed more than 185 people and injured hundreds.
Home Secretaries of the two countries began talks to discuss issues relating to cros-border terror, infiltratrion, drug traficking and the release of prisoners in each other's country. Indian Home Secretary, Madhukar Gupta, accompanied by senior officials, held preliminary discussions with an 11-member Pakistani team led by Interior Secretary, Syed Kamal Shah, on issues like terrorism, narcotics control and the release of fishermen.
The two sides will also discuss a draft agreement on relaxation of visa rules and steps to check illicit drug trafficking. Ahead of the talks, Syed Kamal Shah set an optimistic tone for the meeting saying: "Intentions are always good. We always had positive outcome whenever we have met". He told mediapersons: "We will be able to discuss issues and finalise some details and hope for a positive outcome on all issues of public interest".
When contacted for his views, Madhukar Gupta said that he hoped that the discussions would be "positive and fruitful", contribute to confidence building measures and improve the ambience for the peace process. On the first day of talks, India asked Pakistan to step up cooperation in combatting terrorism. The two-day talks, significantly, come during an increase in militant incursions into Jammu and Kashmir.
The talks are the first in a little over a year and are part of a larger peace process, launched after the neighbours came close to the brink of a fourth war in 2002. According to competent analysts, no major breakthroughs are expected. Progress has been glacial during the past year, with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s domestic political troubles diverting attention.
An understanding is expected to be reached on the early signing of a pact between the drug control agencies to create an agency for regular cooperation. Indian officials say that there has been an increase in attempts by separatist Islamist militants to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir from the Pakistani side despite promises by Islamabad to curb such incursions. There has also been a seasonal spike in separatist violence in Kashmir, which is at the heart of the rivalry between the neighbours.
Historically, the number of militants crossing into Kashmir rises during summer after the melting of winter snows clears mountain passes. Indian security officials blame Pakistan-based militant groups for what they say are plots to launch attacks across India, adding that a joint counter-terrorism panel set up last year had made little progress. Islamabad, on the other hand, says that it has done all it could to curb anti-India militants and that cross-border infiltration and attacks across India will cease only with a final resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
The Home Secretaries of India and Pakistan last met in Islamabad in May 2006 and exchanged a list of wanted criminals. India handed over the names of 38 people, including the heads of Pakistan-based Islamist militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. Pakistan gave a list of 58 people it says are hiding in India. But there has been no progress on this issue, either.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
