Indo-Pak Home Secretary-level talk begins tomorrow

New Delhi, July 2 (UNI) As part of the ongoing composite dialogue process between India and Pakistan, Home Secretaries of both the countries will discuss terrorism and drug trafficking during a two-day meeting beginning here tomorrow.

The talks between Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Kamal Shah are expected to contribute further to the process of confidence building and improving people-to-people contact between the two countries.

''The meeting is expected to be both positive and fruitful,'' a Home Ministry official said here today.

The last Home Secretary level talks were held in May last year in Islamabad.

Sources said the India would raise security concerns and urge Pakistan to widen cooperation in combating the menace of terrorism.

This would be in deference to the objectives set out by the leaders of both countries in the joint statements, issued from time to time in this regard.

An understanding is expected to be reached on early finalisation and signing of the MoU between the drug control agencies of the two countries in order to set up a regular institutional mechanism for cooperation on drug-related matters.

The issues of release of fishermen and their boats and also of prisoners and the strengthening of mutual cooperation between the CBI and FIA will also be discussed.

UNI