India and Pakistan decide to set-up a hotline at Home Secretary level to facilitate real time information sharing with respect to terrorist threats. They also agreed to set up a Joint Working Group for streamlining visa procedure and gave final shape to revision of the bilateral visa agreement. A joint statement issued in New Delhi at the end of two day talks said, Pakistan has agreed in-principle to entertain a commission from India with respect to Mumbai terror attacks probe. The dates for the visit of the judicial commission from Pakistan in connection with 26/11 trial will be conveyed by India within four to six weeks. It also said that India's NIA and Pakistan's FIA will continue to cooperate in the Mumbai attack's probe. The statement also added that India provided information on Samjhauta Express train blast probe. It said, New Delhi also agreed that after filing of the report in the court, updated information will be shared with Pakistan.The statement says, the two sides reiterated their commitment to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and bring to justice those responsible for terror crimes. Sharing concern on the growing menace of narcotics and drugs, the two countries agreed to enhance an effective control on drug trafficking and decided to hold meeting between DG, Narcotics Control Board and his Pakistani counterpart annually. An MoU will be signed at the DG level meeting in May this year to control this menace. The two countries also agreed that CBI and FIA will work out technical details of moving forward on issues of human trafficking, counterfeit currency, cyber crimes and red corner notices. The two Home Secretaries also agreed to release all those civilian prisoners including fishermen who have completed their sentences and whose nationality status has been confirmed by the respective governments. The complete list of prisoners in each others custody will be exchanged by 1st of July. They also decided to assign Coast Guard of India and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency to prepare a report for establishing a mechanism for release for inadvertent crossing of fishermen and their boats. The group has to submit its report before the next meeting of Home Secretaries. Mr. G. K. Pillai and his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhary Qamar Zaman commended the work done by the Judicial Committee on prisoners for release and decided that its next meeting will be held in Pakistan next month from 19th to 23rd. The two Home Secretaries will now meet for next round of talks in Pakistan. They also agreed that the visit of the Interior Minister of Pakistan to India will take place on mutually convenient dates. Our correspondent reports that the outcome of the two day talks has created a conducive atmosphere for summit level discussions on the sidelines of India-Pakistan cricket semifinal between the Prime Ministers of the two countries. The talks are expected to give a push to the composite dialogue process between the two countries which began two years after the Mumbai terror attacks.
News On AIR | March 29, 2011 5:20 PM
Terrorist threats: India, Pak to set-up hotline to facilitate information sharing