By IANS
New Delhi : Home secretaries of India and Pakistan Tuesday began two-day talks to discuss issues relating to cross-border terror, infiltration, drug trafficking and the release of prisoners in each other's country.
Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, accompanied by senior officials, held preliminary discussions with a 11-member Pakistani team led by Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah on issues like terrorism, narcotics control and the release of fishermen.
The two sides will also discuss a draft agreement on relaxation of visa rules and steps to check illicit drug trafficking.
Ahead of the talks, Shah set an optimistic tone for the meeting saying: "Intentions are always good. We always had positive outcome whenever we have met.
"We will be able to discuss issues and finalise some details and hope for a positive outcome on all issues of public interest," Shah told reporters.
Gupta said he hoped that the discussions would be "positive and fruitful", contribute to confidence building measures and improve the ambience for the peace process.
During the talks, India will raise concerns about escalating terrorist infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir across the Line of Control (LoC) and press Pakistan to follow up on leads it has provided into investigation of the July 2006 Mumbai train blasts, which were blamed on Pakistan-based terrorists and which killed 187 people and injured hundreds.