INDIA: Even India, in the awake of the arrest of 26/11 accused terror Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, today said that “bringing the guilty to justice” would be the “biggest confidence-building measure” by Islamabad, Pakistan rejected charges of its state agencies being involved in terrorist activities in India.Addressing a joint press conference after the talks with visiting Pakistani foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai said: “I emphasised that terrorism was the biggest threat to peace and security in the region and bringing the guilty to justice in the Mumbai terror attacks will be the biggest CBM of all... Ansari’s ongoing interrogation has now added urgency to the matter.”
Mathai said he had taken up the matter with Jilani and “shared information”. “We will continue to pursue this matter with determination to its logical conclusion,” he said, adding that India expects “the realisation of this commitment” and “looks forward to its fulfillment”.
Jilani, when asked about Home Minister P Chidambaram’s statement that Ansari had revealed the involvement of Pakistani state agencies, said: “I would very strongly reject any insinuation of any involvement of any state agency in any acts of terrorism in India.”
Jilani said he had assured Mathai that whatever evidence that India has should be shared with Pakistan and it will investigate the matter. Pakistan is even willing to offer “a joint investigation” into the whole affair, Jilani said.
The broad takeaway after the latest round of talks is that India was able to raise the issue of terrorism on “at least three platforms” — from the home secretary talks to the foreign secretary talks. Sources said the Indian side used both sessions on Wednesday — on “peace and security” and on “Jammu and Kashmir” — to convey its concerns on terrorism.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is expected to visit Pakistan in the first half of September following “scheduling issues” on the proposed date of July 27.
In the joint statement, there was some important word play which signified forward movement in their approach when compared to last year’s joint statement between the two foreign secretaries. They “reaffirmed” the “strong” commitment India, Pak talk terror, Ansari to fight and eliminate terrorism in an “effective and comprehensive manner”.
Replying to a question on Pakistan’s apparent delay in taking action in the 26/11 case, Jilani said: “We have, over the years, improved our level of cooperation. And in case there are certain gaps that need to be filled, I think we should fill those gaps in a spirit of cooperation. That is the only way that we can move forward on this very important issue.”
Sources said the discussions were held in a “more mature” manner and there was “no rancour”. The two sides discussed a series of CBMs — multi-entry permits for cross-LoC travel, meeting between Coast Guards, cooperation between defence think-tanks, pilgrimages across LoC and extended timings for vehicles crossing the borders.
On Jammu and Kashmir, the joint statement repeated last year’s paragraph, only adding the word “comprehensive”. “The foreign secretaries had a comprehensive exchange of views on the issue of Jammu & Kashmir and agreed to continue discussions in a purposeful and forward-looking manner with the view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences,” it said. Sources said both sides stuck to their well-known positions.
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