India, Pak set up Jt Anti-Terror Mechanism, end FS-level talks

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) India and Pakistan have agreed to establish a Joint Anti-terror Mechanism and initialled an agreement on reducing the risk of nuclear accidents as both sides concluded their Foreign Secretary-level talks here today putting the derailed Composite Dialogue Process (CDP) back on track and brightening prospects for peace.

The Anti-terror Mechanism, proposed at a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf at Havana in September on the sidelines of the NAM Summit, will have three members on each side.

Each side will be headed by the Additional Secretary (International Organisations) in the External Affairs Ministry, and Additional Secretary--UN from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.

''Its mandate would be to consider counter-terrorism measures including through regular and timely sharing of information,'' a Joint Statement issued after the two days of hectic deliberations, said.

The two sides initialled the agreement on 'Reducing the Risk From Accidents relating to Nuclear Weapons' and both had agreed on its early signing.

They expressed satisfaction at the implementation of the 'Agreement on Pre-Notification of the Flight Testing of Ballistic Missiles.' Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, who led the Indian delegation at the two-day talks with his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan, told reporters that India had also given a list of the evidence about the involvement of Pak-based organisations in various terrorist incidents in the country.

''It was now upto Pakistan to act,'' he asserted.

Asked whether any specific evidence about ISI involvement in Mumbai bomb blasts had been given, Mr Menon said only that evidence was handed over which had been investigated and where charge-sheets had been filed.

''What we have given them today, it is not today's information, but about incidents during the past one year. The establishment of the Mechanism gives us an institution which helps us deal with the concerns of terrorism,'' he said.

Asked whther any specific evidence was given about Mumbai bomb blasts, Mr Menon said it had only been discussed. Giving evidence about Mumbai would have meant contempt of courts as the matter was still being investigated and charge-sheets had not been filed.

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