By Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, KUNA,
New Delhi : India and Pakistan would hold their third meeting of Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism (JATM) Tuesday in Islamabad, during which New Delhi is likely to convey concerns over cross-border terrorism. “Discussions in the Third Meeting of JATM will follow the mandate given to the group on September 16, 2006 and India is expected to raise the issue of cross-border terror at the meet including the recent incidents of terror strikes in the country,” a source in the Indian External Affairs Ministry told KUNA Monday.
“India has been a victim of cross-border terror emanating out of Pakistan for almost two decades now. Although several assurances have been given there have been no decline in such activities on the ground. Terrorism is a global menace… we seek a positive response from Islamabad,” the source stressed.
The JATM was created to address the issue and India had put forward its viewpoint and concerns through the mechanism, the source pointed out.
The Indian delegation will be headed by Vivek Katju, Additional Secretary (Pol International Organizations) in the Indian External Affairs Ministry and the Pakistani delegation by Masood Khalid, Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) in the Pakistan Foreign Ministry.
Two meetings of the Mechanism have been held in March 2007 (Islamabad) and October 2007 (New Delhi). Cross-border terror is also part of the bilateral Composite Dialogue process.
During his visit to Islamabad last month, Indias External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had expressed New Delhis concerns on cross-border terrorism. Both countries agreed to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The two sides also re-emphasised the need for effective steps for the complete elimination of this menace. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will arrive in India on June 27 on a four-day visit for talks with Mukherjee.