Indo-Pak Home Secretary level talks begin in Islamabad
Talks between India and Pakistan at the Home Secretary level begin in Islamabad on Thursday. This is the second such meeting of Home Secretaries since the 26/11 attacks in 2008 in Mumbai. A 12-member delegation, led by Home Secretary RK Singh, on Wednesday left for Pakistan where a relaxed visa regime is expected to be inked apart from New Delhi pressing for action against perpetrators of the 26/11 attack.
The broad agenda of the two-day talks would focus on terrorism, fugitives from Indian law like underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who are believed to be hiding in Pakistan, narcotics, fake Indian currency notes and humanitarian issues including Indian fishermen and civilians in Pakistan jails. The visit comes in the backdrop of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to India on April 8 during which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had stressed the need for Pakistan to take firm action to curb terrorism to enable India to make forward movement in the bilateral relationship.
While the visa agreement is expected to be the high point of the two-day talks, there will also be discussion on ways to counter terrorism. The agreement is expected to include the provision of visas on arrival for senior citizens and children at Wagah, group visas to facilitate exchange programmes between students of both countries and multiple-entry business visas for traders on both sides.
Talks will also focus on countering terrorism as India wants voice samples of those accused in the 26/11 case. India is likely to ask what action Pakistan has been taken on the dossiers it was given after the Mumbai terror attacks and Pakistan is likely to seek an update on the status of the investigation into the Samjhauta Express blast. The delegation includes Intelligence Bureau Director Nehchal Sandhu, National Investigation Agency chief SC Sinha and officials from Home and External Affairs Ministries and CBI.