'Saeed not a pre-condition for talks'

New York: In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Rehman Malik, the Interior Minister of Pakistan, has said that it's important for India to move away from the past on 26/11. According to Malik, India must not make action against Hafiz Saeed a pre-condition for talks.

"My appeal to India is to move away from the past," the minister said adding "There is no harm in sitting together. Even enemies sit together. We do not treat you as enemies. Let us be friends."

India had earlier said that it's not optimistic of any major stepforward when the foreign minister of both countries meet on thesidelines of the UN General Assembly meet on September 27.

Here's the full transcript of the interview:

Rehman Malik's take on Pakistan's role in Mumbai attacks' probe:

Rehman Malik: If you recall, before the dossier arrived in Pakistan from India we had arrested two of the accused. We had information from India that Lakhvi is the mastermind. We had only leads and today by the grace of Allah we have seven accused and we have tangible evidence.

The matter has gone to the court now and I hope to have the first charges to be framed in the first week of October.  That is what my office told me today.

I believe in reality and the reality is that India had Ansari's statement before the bombings. Had that information been passed to us, perhaps that incident would not have happened. Anyway, it has happened and now both countries have to move on in one direction.

I think Pakistan's offer of composite dialogue must be accepted. There is no harm in sitting together. Even enemies sit together. We do not treat you as enemies. Let us be friends. I expect to meet my counterpart. I have no hang-ups with that. My appeal to India would be that move away from the past. We need to have a fresh start. Let's first identify our issues. You identify your issues as we have done. We are ready to take this forward.

NDTV: But India has identified her issue - Hafiz Saeed. Without that, External Affairs Minister Krishna told NDTV, there is no trust to take this forward.

Rehman Malik: Trust comes when you interact. I think there is a block because India is not coming on the table. If I have the evidence then I assure you...

NDTV: India has given you evidence.

Rehman Malik: Look there is a difference between leads and evidence. If we can arrest Lakhvi, why would we not arrest Saeed? The only request that I am making to India is give us credible evidence. I am not rejecting those leads. Only three weeks have passed. Give me some time to investigate. You have seen two FIRs in Faisalabad. It is not window dressing. Believe me.

NDTV: But the FIRs are registered not in connection with the Mumbai attacks?

Rehman Malik: He was instigating people. So the FIR was registered. Look when the leads culminate in some evidence that he is a criminal, I will not waste a moment. He will be arrested. But it will take time.

We have to follow our law. As we are respecting the investigation and the courts of India, I request you to request our courts. Wait for some time. The court process has started. We mean business. Whatever we have committed on all forums, we mean business.

 As far as Hafiz Saeed is concerned, please do not make this a precondition. Because you know yourself that what you have given us is not evidence.

Also, at the same time, I want to say that the people of Pakistan also have demands. Col. Purohit was involved in Samjhauta. He was charged. The matter went to the SC. We learnt from a friendly country that he was involved in the Mumbai attacks.

We have the right to ask about the dossier. Those who lost their lives in Samjhauta...they too had families and love ones. They are asking me to bring Col. Purohit to Pakistan to be charged.

I am not asking for that I am only asking for dossier. My country has a right to ask that.

I did not want to bring this topic up but you forced me. When we talk of cooperation then we need reciprocity. We can't have a tali only with one hand.

NDTV: So it seems that we will not have any action on this before the 27th and India's precondition for talks is that there has to be some progress on this.

Rehman Malik: Well, I think putting pressure...or giving a dictation... no nation likes it. And as Interior Minister, when I say we are working on it then believe me we are.

NDTV: Our two ministers are here in NY staying just blocks away from each other but the gap between them seems so much more. Who is going to break this deadlock?

Rehman Malik: When the composite dialogue comes, I think it will be broken anyways. In any case in NY you don't even know your neighbours. So don't worry, I assure you that when the two foreign ministers meet, there will be some good results. Let's not think negative. Thanks