By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani leaders have strongly condemned the killing of over 100 people in synchronised terror attacks in India’s commercial capital of Mumbai, calling for “strict measures” to counter the scourge.
President Asif Ali Zardari, while condemning the blasts and firing, called for strict measures to deal with terrorism. “President Zardari stressed the need for taking strict measures to eradicate terrorism and extremism from the region,” a brief message issued by the ministry of information said.
It said that Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
In their separate messages, Zardari and Gilani deplored the tragic incidents which resulted in the killing of more than 100 people.
“Prime Minister Gilani urged the need for concerted efforts to make the region a peaceful place to live,” said the message.
A day before in Islamabad, the interior secretaries of Pakistan and India agreed to boost cooperation between their civilian investigation agencies to control terrorist activities and illegal immigration.
Officials of the interior ministry said the decisions were taken during the composite dialogue, which reviewed proposals by Zardari for a treaty to make South Asia a non-nuclear region and an economic hub.
It was the fifth round of home secretary-level talks. The Indian side was represented by Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, while Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah represented Pakistan.
Under the joint anti-terrorism mechanism, a two-member committee has been formed, comprising additional foreign secretaries of the two sides. The committee will exchange information about terrorists.
Both sides agreed to install biometric systems at all entry and exit points to stop illegal immigration.