Islamabad:
Pakistan has indicated its willingness to provide voice samples of 26/11 handlers and offer any other kind of cooperation to India, which pressed for prosecution of more people involved in the Mumbai terror attacks. (Read: Believe more people are behind 26/11, says Chidambaram)
A day after their meeting in Islamabad that focused on 26/11 attacks, Home Minister P Chidambaram and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik talked in a positive tone, saying they were positive about the outcome of their deliberations.
"We will provide every possible assistance in addition to what you are talking about voice samples," Malik told reporters when asked whether Pakistan would provide voice samples of the handlers of 26/11 attackers.
India has sought the voice samples in a dossier given to Pakistan last week and Chidambaram is understood to have raised this issue at the meeting with Malik.
Indian investigators want the voice samples of the handlers, who have been identified in the dossiers given by India to Pakistan, to be matched with the recordings of the conversation the Mumbai attackers had with them.
"It is underway. We received dossier four-five days back. I sent it to investigators, and whatever they requested we will look into it," Malik said.
Asked whether Pakistan would supply these to India, he said, "I am not denying anything. We will help them take these terrorists to justice like we are trying abettors and conspirators on this side. I am not denying or refusing any cooperation or any assistance."
Renewed bonhomie:
The Indian side said the two countries were picking up threads of the process of improving ties interrupted by the Mumbai attacks.
Speaking to reporters separately, Chidambaram said he had conveyed to his counterpart that while seven Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) activists had been arrested in connection with Mumbai attacks, there were more people involved and they should also be prosecuted.
He noted that the trial of seven 26/11 accused being held here was adjourned again today. (Read: Setback in 26/11 case - Pak court adjourns trial for a week)
Chidambaram said the two leaders discussed whether they could "identify what needs to be done having regard to what has already been done".
"I remain positive that something good will come out of that meeting," he said.
Chidambaram said, "We know that seven people (are being) prosecuted in the case. How far the prosecution has proceeded, it is for the Pakistani government to tell. We think that more people were behind the attacks and more people should be prosecuted."
"That point has been made to the Pakistani government and as I said, I wish to remain positive on the outcome of the meeting with Rehman Malik," the Home Minister said.
When a reporter said Pakistan had termed "myopic" India's decision to suspend dialogue process after Mumbai attacks and harping on arrest of Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, Chidambaram said that Pakistan government had not used that word.
India considers Saeed, also the founder of LeT, as the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including foreigners. (Read: Pak should act against Saeed, says Chidambaram)
The Pakistan Interior Minister said he had sent the Indian dossier to investigators. "Whoever is found guilty and if somebody is involved, I will definitely take action. There is no question about it," he said.
He insisted, "We are not there to create any hurdle in the investigation. Rather we will assist and cooperate with India. India has extended hand of friendship. We accept it and we have also extended hand of friendship."
Chidambaram said: "Now we are trying to pick the threads again. Foreign ministers are talking to each other, the Prime Ministers have met."
Asked about his conversation with Malik, the Home Minister refused to give details but said, "I am sure you can repose confidence in me that I have conveyed whatever was necessary to convey to my counterpart and he has conveyed whatever he felt necessary to convey to me."
Indo-Pak resolve against terrorism:
On the deliberations of SAARC Interior Ministers' conference, he noted that all member countries mentioned terrorism as the foremost concern and this was reflected in the joint statement.
"It is a welcome development. Acknowledgement of the problem is the first step towards its resolution."
Malik said he and Chidambaram discussed "whatever was required" to be discussed.
"We will work with full responsibility. The idea is to bring friendship between India and Pakistan. The idea is to strike heavily against terrorists. I think the resolve between India and Pakistan is to come down heavily on terrorists, from wherever they come from," Malik said.
He said the two countries should take their talks towards positive side.
"We should show unity, terrorists would like to create quarrel between the two neighbours. We will cooperate and work together," the Pakistan Interior Minister said.
Asked whether Pakistan would pursue leads given by India on 26/11 attacks, Malik said his country would investigate whatever new information is provided. "We will investigate with seriousness."
Queried whether action would be taken against Hafiz Saeed, he said he would not go into specifics.
"The fact is any terrorist or anybody, wherever there is evidence, we will act and we will take action. And we will keep India in confidence. What is important is interaction, we will have good results of the interaction," he said.
Also See:
In 'minor mistake' India flag upside down in Pak
A day after their meeting in Islamabad that focused on 26/11 attacks, Home Minister P Chidambaram and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik talked in a positive tone, saying they were positive about the outcome of their deliberations.
"We will provide every possible assistance in addition to what you are talking about voice samples," Malik told reporters when asked whether Pakistan would provide voice samples of the handlers of 26/11 attackers.
India has sought the voice samples in a dossier given to Pakistan last week and Chidambaram is understood to have raised this issue at the meeting with Malik.
Indian investigators want the voice samples of the handlers, who have been identified in the dossiers given by India to Pakistan, to be matched with the recordings of the conversation the Mumbai attackers had with them.
"It is underway. We received dossier four-five days back. I sent it to investigators, and whatever they requested we will look into it," Malik said.
Asked whether Pakistan would supply these to India, he said, "I am not denying anything. We will help them take these terrorists to justice like we are trying abettors and conspirators on this side. I am not denying or refusing any cooperation or any assistance."
Renewed bonhomie:
The Indian side said the two countries were picking up threads of the process of improving ties interrupted by the Mumbai attacks.
Speaking to reporters separately, Chidambaram said he had conveyed to his counterpart that while seven Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) activists had been arrested in connection with Mumbai attacks, there were more people involved and they should also be prosecuted.
He noted that the trial of seven 26/11 accused being held here was adjourned again today. (Read: Setback in 26/11 case - Pak court adjourns trial for a week)
Chidambaram said the two leaders discussed whether they could "identify what needs to be done having regard to what has already been done".
"I remain positive that something good will come out of that meeting," he said.
Chidambaram said, "We know that seven people (are being) prosecuted in the case. How far the prosecution has proceeded, it is for the Pakistani government to tell. We think that more people were behind the attacks and more people should be prosecuted."
"That point has been made to the Pakistani government and as I said, I wish to remain positive on the outcome of the meeting with Rehman Malik," the Home Minister said.
When a reporter said Pakistan had termed "myopic" India's decision to suspend dialogue process after Mumbai attacks and harping on arrest of Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, Chidambaram said that Pakistan government had not used that word.
India considers Saeed, also the founder of LeT, as the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including foreigners. (Read: Pak should act against Saeed, says Chidambaram)
The Pakistan Interior Minister said he had sent the Indian dossier to investigators. "Whoever is found guilty and if somebody is involved, I will definitely take action. There is no question about it," he said.
He insisted, "We are not there to create any hurdle in the investigation. Rather we will assist and cooperate with India. India has extended hand of friendship. We accept it and we have also extended hand of friendship."
Chidambaram said: "Now we are trying to pick the threads again. Foreign ministers are talking to each other, the Prime Ministers have met."
Asked about his conversation with Malik, the Home Minister refused to give details but said, "I am sure you can repose confidence in me that I have conveyed whatever was necessary to convey to my counterpart and he has conveyed whatever he felt necessary to convey to me."
Indo-Pak resolve against terrorism:
On the deliberations of SAARC Interior Ministers' conference, he noted that all member countries mentioned terrorism as the foremost concern and this was reflected in the joint statement.
"It is a welcome development. Acknowledgement of the problem is the first step towards its resolution."
Malik said he and Chidambaram discussed "whatever was required" to be discussed.
"We will work with full responsibility. The idea is to bring friendship between India and Pakistan. The idea is to strike heavily against terrorists. I think the resolve between India and Pakistan is to come down heavily on terrorists, from wherever they come from," Malik said.
He said the two countries should take their talks towards positive side.
"We should show unity, terrorists would like to create quarrel between the two neighbours. We will cooperate and work together," the Pakistan Interior Minister said.
Asked whether Pakistan would pursue leads given by India on 26/11 attacks, Malik said his country would investigate whatever new information is provided. "We will investigate with seriousness."
Queried whether action would be taken against Hafiz Saeed, he said he would not go into specifics.
"The fact is any terrorist or anybody, wherever there is evidence, we will act and we will take action. And we will keep India in confidence. What is important is interaction, we will have good results of the interaction," he said.
Also See:
In 'minor mistake' India flag upside down in Pak
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