India-Pakistan talks focus on visas, Mumbai probe

By IANS,

Islamabad : Pakistan and India Thursday began their two-day talks here, focusing on a liberalised visa regime. New Delhi will also press for action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack.


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The broad agenda for the talks is relaxation of visa regime between the two countries — multiple visas for traders, and on-arrival visa for the aged and children at the Wagah border checkpost — progress on probe in the Mumbai terror attack that left 166 people dead, and confidence building measures, reported Geo News.

The Pakistani delegation is led by Interior Secretary Khawaja Siddiq Akbar while the 12-member Indian delegation is led by Home Secretary R.K. Singh.

The last round of home secretary-level talks was held in New Delhi in March 2011.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik Wednesday chaired a pre-meeting session of the talks.

Malik reviewed the progress attained from the last interior secretary level talks between Pakistan and India.

During the two days of talks, India will press for action against perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack and also on discussion on the issues related to terrorism.

New Delhi is also expected to ask for action against fugitives from Indian law like crime syndicate boss Dawood Ibrahim who are suspected to be sheltering in Pakistan.

Issues like the expeditious release of Indian fishermen and civilians in Pakistani jails are also expected to be taken up for discussions.

The talks between the home secretaries got a fresh momentum after Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari visited India April 8 and promised to fast-track prosecution of the 26/11 terrorists.

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