Pakistan to set up independent probe in Kabul embassy blast

Colombo, Aug 2 (UNI) Coming under severe attack for ISI's role in the July 7 fidayeen attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, Pakistan today assured India that it would conduct an independent investigation into the incident.

This assurance was given to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gillani during their first meeting which took place on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit here this evening, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said at a press conference in Colombo.

Mr Gillani said his government would try to get to the root of the incident in which Indian Defence Attache and Counsellor and three other Mission staff were killed.

The Pakistani Prime Minister's commitment came following the indictment of the ISI by Dr Singh and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai during the inaugural session of the 15th SAARC Summit.

Mr Gillani conveyed to the Prime Minister that he would take up the issue with Mr Karzai tomorrow to see if some investigation and information could be shared to reach to the bottom of the incident.

However, he did not give any time-frame or the contours of the investigation.

The talks between the two Prime Ministers were ''candid and frank,'' the Foreign Secretary said while briefing mediapersons on the bilateral meetings between Dr Singh and his counterparts from other countries.

The Prime Minister also held talks with Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley, Nepalese Prime Minister G P Koirala and Bangladeshi Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed.

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