Indo-Pak Home Secretary-level talks begin

Islamabad, Nov.25: Home Secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India began in Islamabad on Tuesday, Nov 25 with Pakistan's Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah and India's Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta leading their respective delegations.

According to Interior Ministry officials the issues that were on the agenda for discussion included counter terrorism, drug trafficking and issues pertaining to civilian prisoners - especially fishermen - of both countries lodged in each other's jails. An APP report said that visa regulations were also likely to be discussed Another important issue that was going to be considered was how to increase co-operation between India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), it quoted officials, as saying. The talks are a part of the fifth Round of the Composite Dialogue between the nuclear-armed rivals which covers eight areas, including the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, border disputes, terrorism and economic cooperation.

The neighbors launched peace efforts in 2004 after nearly going to war a fourth time over Islamist militant attacks in India linked to a nearly two decades revolt against Indian rule in Kashmir which Pakistan supports politically.

ANI