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Monday, Feb 14, 2011
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Pillai to invite Pakistani counterpart

G.K. Pillai

NEW DELHI: In a quick follow-up to the recent India-Pakistan decision to resume comprehensive talks, Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai will extend an invitation to his Pakistani counterpart, Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, for discussions here next month on counter-terrorism, including progress in the Mumbai terror attacks trial there.

“I will call my Pakistani counterpart this week inviting him to New Delhi. I will propose two sets of dates to him for a meeting in the second half of next month,” Mr. Pillai told PTI.

First such meet

This will be the first structured bilateral Secretary-level meeting on counter-terrorism, including progress on the 26/11 trial in a Rawalpindi court.

More than two years after India suspended the composite dialogue with Pakistan in the wake of the 26/11 attacks in 2008, the two sides recently decided to resume comprehensive dialogue comprising the same issues as in the composite one.

Asked about the issues to be taken up during the meeting with Mr. Zaman, Mr. Pillai said: “From our side it will be, of course, progress on investigations [26/11].”

“We will ask for voice transcripts even though the trial court has said no. We will ask them why they have not gone and appealed. I am sure the High Court or the Supreme Court may have said that the voice transcripts can be given,” he said

Lack of action

Underlining lack of action on the part of Pakistan in the investigations into the 26/11 attacks, he said: “So far most of the people they have caught are all chaps who have sold outboard engine or... driven a taxi and not anyone of the main people whose voice has been identified by Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley.”

“I think by now, if they wanted, they should have arrested the main persons behind it [Mumbai attacks]. No use catching people on the street.... and not the real controllers and who are behind it [attacks] despite India providing them the names, photographs and their addresses,” the Home Secretary said said. — PTI

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