By IANS
New Delhi : The standoff between security forces and militant students in a besieged mosque in Islamabad has compelled Pakistani Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah to cut short his two-day visit to India, officials here said Tuesday.
Shah, who was here for talks with his Indian counterpart on issues like controlling cross-border terror, was to have flown to Amritsar Tuesday night and cross over from the Wagah border Wednesday morning, the officials added.
However, the modalities of his journey to Amritsar were still being worked out till late Tuesday night and it was possible he would leave only on Wednesday morning, the officials said.
Word of the standoff at the Lal Masjid, where nine people were killed as the security forces and militant students traded fire, came in as the talks here between Shah and Indian Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta began Tuesday morning.
A Pakistan Ranger trooper and a journalist were among those killed in the firing.
"Even as the talks progressed, there were indications that Shah might have to curtail his visit and return home," an official said.
The talks, however, will continue Wednesday as the bulk of the 11-member Pakistani delegation will stay on in New Delhi.