Pakistan offers joint investigation to India
Foreign secretary level talks of India and Pakistan concluded in New Delhi with Pakistan offering joint investigation to look into revelations made by 26/11 attack accused Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal. Addressing the press after the meet, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said that India should share all evidences with Pakistan and it will investigate the matter.
Speaking just before Jilani, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said bringing the guilty to justice in the Mumbai terror attacks would be the biggest confidence building measure (CBM) of all. “Foreign secretary Jilani and I discussed all issues that impact peace and security between our two countries including terrorism. I emphasised that terrorism is the biggest threat to peace and security in the region,” he said.
The foreign secretaries have also decided to now have separate meetings of expert level groups on nuclear and conventional CBMs to implement these measures. There were also talks about cross-Line of Control CBMs streamlining the arrangements to facilitate travel and trade across LOC. A meeting of working group on Cross-LoC CBMs will take place on 19 July 2012 in Islamabad.
Another key feature in the joint statement is the recognition by both countries to promote media and sports contacts. Cricketing ties between the two countries have been cut for last few years with growing demand to renew it. Mathai pointed out that there are security concerns but it is a “matter for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board.”