India, Pak share fresh information on terrorist incidents

Islamabad, Jun 24 (UNI) As the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan prepare to meet in New Delhi to set the tone for the fifth round of the Composite Dialogue Process, senior officials of the two countries met here today and shared fresh information on terrorist incidents and agreed to continue to work to identify counter-terrorism measures.

At the third meeting of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism (JATM), the two countries also agreed to assist each other in investigations through exchange of specific information and for preventing violence and terrorist acts.

The Indian delegation at the talks was headed by Mr Vivek Katju, Additional Secretary (Pol and International Organisations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Pakistani side was led by Mr Masood Khalid, Additional Secretary (Asia-Pacific), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

The two sides also reviewed the follow up steps taken on the information shared during the earlier meeting of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism.

Sources said the Indian side sought assistance in investigation of the Jaipur serial bomb explosions which killed nearly 60 people.

The last meeting was held in New Delhi on October 22, 2007.

''Both sides shared fresh information on terrorist incidents. They agreed to continue to work to identify counter-terrorism measures, assist in investigations through exchange of specific information and for preventing violence and terrorist acts,'' the sources said.

The idea of the JATM was mooted during discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf at Havana on the sidelines of the NAM Summit in September 2006.

The purpose of the JATM is to provide a proper forum for cooperation in sharing information regarding specific terrorist incidents in either country to stop terrorist acts and investigate terrorist activities.

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