Pak foreign minister for joint fight against terrorism

Chandigarh, Nov 27 (UNI) Advocating a joint Indida-Pakistan strategy to combat terrorism, Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi today called for strengthening the intelligence sharing mechanism between the two nations.

''We have to sit and put our heads together to combat this problem as both India and Pakistan were victims of terrorism and need to jointly fight it,'' he said while talking to mediapersons here.

Referring to his talks with his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee yesterday, Mr Qureshi said he had suggested ''direct contact'' between the chief's of the intelligence agencies of the two countries. There should be interaction at all levels so that terrorism can be collectively combated, he added.

Both the nations must have the political will to combat terrorism, which is not confined to one region but was a global phenomenon, he added. '' We have to change our old mindset and reach out to each other,'' he stated.

Condemning the terror attacks in Mumbai, he said it was barbaric incident. '' I am horrified and shocked and my heart goes to the families of victims,'' he added.

Mr Qureshi was here as a Guest of Honour at the International Conference on Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South Asia being held at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development.

MORE UNI HS SV GC1540