Pak to evade 26/11 talks, intends to focus only on Kashmir

Islamabad, Jun 17: Pakistan seems to have set its agenda clear in the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks with India. Pakistan intends to focus on the three 'safe' issues and not to dwell upon 26/11 attacks probe, which is the most pressing bone of contention between the two countries.

The Dawn News had reported Pakistan's comments that the fresh evidence in the Mumbai terror attacks should not be discussed in the talks with India, while Kashmir should be discussed. Tehmina Janjua, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson said, "The agenda for the upcoming meeting is very clearly the three issues that have been indicated - peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and friendly exchanges,"

Janjua also added that the Mumbai attacks should be discussed by the interior secretaries of the two countries and said, "On counter-terrorism, we have already had discussions under the interior or home secretary rubric where all these issues have been discussed. Whenever India provides us fresh information, it is sent to the ministry of interior and it is examined by them."

The Dawn News also mentioned a source that stated Islamabad had suggested a date of June 24-25 for the talks, though there is no confirmation from India.

India had recently sent a dossier to Pakistan stating the names of suspects involved in the terror attacks that was found post David Headley testimony during the Tawahhur Rana trial in Chicago. The names of the five suspects are Sajid Mir, Abu Qahafa, Major Iqbal, Mazhar Iqbal and a man identified as "Lashkar member D."

Janjua also added on the talks proposal, "We are in communication with New Delhi to firm up the dates for the visit to Pakistan by the Indian foreign secretary later this month for foreign secretary-level talks in the context of the resumed dialogue process." Certain Pak diplomats have suggested that India would want to focus on the Mumbai attacks and is most likely to relegate the Kashmir issue to the sidelines.

OneIndia News