Counter-terrorism mechanism with Pak different from JWGs:India

Frankfurt, Sep 18 (UNI) The joint anti-terrorism institutional mechanism put in place by India and Pakistan to identify and implement counter-terrorism initiatives and investigations will be 'very different' from the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) that India has to deal with terrorism with several countries, according to senior Indian officials.

''This mechanism was entirely India's idea...it is an extremely innovative mechanism,'' the officials, who accompanied Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his visit to Brazil and Cuba, said.

India has JWGs on counter-terrorism with 23 countries and two multilateral bodies--EU and BIMSTEC.

The officials said the joint statement isued by India and Pakistan after a meeting between Prime Minister Singh and Paksitan President Pervez Musharraf in Havana on Saturday should be seen in a proper context. ''The joint statement clearly speaks about Pakistan's commitment to all previous joint statements issued by India and Pakistan on January 6, 2004, September 24, 2004, April 18, 2005 and September 14, 2005,'' they added.

The officials noted that the joint statement also spoke about the two countries' commitment to the peace process and condemned in unequivocal terms the July serial blasts in Mumbai.

They said in the past whenever India made statements on terrorism, Pakistan made counter statements. ''Through the mechanism put in place by the two sides, we will find specific ways to deal with terrorism. Such exchanges between the two sides will be under the umbrella of the joint statement issued by the Prime Minister and the President.'' The two countries would now identify the officials on both sides who would handle crucial issues, like exchange of information.

''It certainly is a leap of faith... we will put forward what we have and they are also willing to look at it,'' the officials added.

The officials said if the mechanism did not work to the satisfaction of the two countries, they would consider other methods of dealing with the menace. ''We are hoping that the mechanism will help us bring back some of the Indians accused of committing heinous crimes in India back home for interrogation.'' Asked which was the toughest para of negotiations between the two countries in the Manmohan-Musharraf joint statement, they said obviously the one dealing with terrorism. ''The Pakistanis were apprehensive that an accusing finger should not be pointed at them for the Mumbai blasts.'' The officials said the Prime Minister was committed to improvement in relations with Pakistan. Dr Singh had told the Pakistani leadership that any incident of violence in India did create hiccups in the peace process.

However, it was important to improve relations with Pakistan and carry forward the peace process.

UNI SA AT DS1410