New Delhi:
The Home Secretaries of India and Pakistan met in New Delhi today as part of their two-day talks to discuss a wide range of issues. The meetings between Pakistan's Interior Secretary, Chaudhary Qamar Zaman, and his Indian counterpart, Home Secretary GK Pillai, will primarily focus on reducing the trust deficit between the two countries.
Zaman arrived in India on Sunday. He is leading a six-member delegation.
"Such efforts between the two sides would enhance peaceful relations and promote people-to-people contact," Zaman told reporters at the Attari-Wagah border before flying to Delhi. "We are going to understand each other and try to do the best that we can," he added.
Sources have told NDTV that India will discuss with Pakistan the progress in the probe of 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. It will also seek voice samples of the Pakistani handlers of the attacks. Other issues that India plans to take up include Pakistan's alleged involvement in last year's violent protest in Jammu and Kashmir and printing of fake Indian currency.
Pakistan is also hoping to make some progress with India on easing the visa regime.
"We will be talking to our counterparts in New Delhi about how to make travel easier for the common man. One of the issues we intend to discuss is the visa issue between the two countries and how to make it easier and faster so that the common man gets the benefit out of it," Zaman said.
Referring to the invitation extended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final in Mohali on March 30, he said, "The entire country has appreciated this gesture of the honorable Prime Minister of India." Gilani has accepted Singh's invitation.
Sources tell NDTV that if all goes well, the commerce and water resources secretaries of the two countries will most likely meet next. (With PTI Inputs)