NEW DELHI, 4 July 2007 — Displaying determination of the two countries to strengthen the ongoing peace process, home secretaries of India and Pakistan began their two-day talks yesterday on a positive note. Ahead of the talks, Pakistan Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah said: “Intentions are always good. We always had positive outcome whenever we have met.”
Shah heads an 11-member Pakistani team, while the Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta leads the Indian team. The two sides are focusing on issues such as terrorism, infiltration, drug trafficking and the release of prisoners in each other’s country.
Setting a positive tone for the talks, Shah said: “We will be able to discuss issues and finalize some details and hope for a positive outcome on all issues of public interest.” In a similar tone, Gupta expressed hope that talks would be “positive and fruitful” and contribute to confidence-building measures and also improve people-to-people contact.
Though issues of terrorism and drug trafficking have always been high on the agenda in their talks, this time, they are likely to give serious consideration to working on a mechanism to sort out these perpetual problems. While conveying strong concern to Pakistan on cross border terrorism, India will seek assurance on attempts being made to dismantle the terror infrastructure there. Pakistan’s assurances of not allowing its soil to be used by terror outfits have been viewed skeptically by India, as it holds the opinion that the terror infrastructure including training camps and communication networks function there with impunity.
Among the issues being raised by India include involvement of Pakistan-based elements in the explosion at a Hyderabad mosque and the Samjhauta Express blasts. Reiterating its demand for deportation of criminals, India has handed a list of 35 wanted persons to Islamabad, which has the name of Dawood Ibrahim and his brother Anees.
There is the possibility of India and Pakistan reaching an understanding for early finalization of a memorandum of understanding between drug control agencies for setting up a regular institutional mechanism for cooperation on drug-related matters.
The two sides are also working on draft agreements regarding relaxation of visa rules. During secretary-level talks held last week in Islamabad, Pakistan showed interest in introducing group tourism visas to promote tourism and had offered to allow Indians to visit eight more shrines. Though the two sides discussed new proposals, such as group tourism, to enhance people-to-people contacts, they left the decision on liberalization of visa regime to this meeting of home secretaries.
The other issues being considered include human trafficking, money laundering, fake currency, consular access and issues related to civilian prisoners and fishermen. During the last home secretary-level talks in Islamabad in May 2006, both sides had agreed to release fishermen and civilian prisoners who had completed their prison sentences, had been granted consular access and whose national status had been verified.
The issue of freeing nearly 500 Indian fishermen lodged in Pakistani jails is being raised by India. Islamabad has yet to provide consular access to these prisoners.
Regarding Islamabad’s demand for the release of Pakistani nationals in Indian jails, Delhi’s stand is that while these nationals were booked for various terrorist offenses, cases concerning Indian fishermen involve their crossing of water boundary inadvertently.
