India, Pak begin Anti-Terror talks

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) The second meeting of the India-Pakistan Anti-terrorism Mechanism began here today to discuss measures to counter terrorist strikes in either country.

The talks are significant as these are being held against the backdrop of the deadly terrorist attack on former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto at Karachi in which 139 people were killed and nearly 500 injured, and the bomb explosions in a Ludhiana cinema hall and in Hyderabad.

At the meeting today, both countries are expected to deliberate on various issues, including sharing of information.

They will also review the progress made after the first meeting held in March.

The Indian delegation at the talks is led by Mr K C Singh, Additional Secretary (International Organisations), in the Ministry of External Affairs and the Pakistan side by Mr Khalid Aziz Babar, Additional Secretary (UN and EC) in the Pakistan Foreign Ministry.

Discussions in the Second Meeting of Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism will follow the mandate given to the group when it was constituted after the meeting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf in Havana on September 16, 2006, on the sidelines of the NAM Summit.

The meeting comes barely days after India called for ''strong and determined action'' by all governments to curb terrorism in the region.

''The spectre of terrorism confronting our region requires strong and determined action by all our Governments,'' the External Affairs Ministry said after strongly condemning terrorist attacks on Ms Bhutto in Karachi.

UNI