PAKISTAN has agreed to allow a visit by Indian investigators as part of their probe into the 2008 Mumbai militant attacks in a significant confidence building measure between the two nations.
Civil servants in charge of security issues ended two days of talks in New Delhi today, seeking to rebuild trust after the Mumbai attacks that had raised fears of a fourth war between the two countries.
Tomorrow, the two nations’ prime ministers will attend what is expected to be a highly charged World Cup cricket semi-final between India and Pakistan in Mohali.
India has long sought permission to have its investigators visit Pakistan to help their inquiries into the attacks.
The breakthrough is a further boost ahead of ministerial talks in July that will cover issues such as the disputed territory of Kashmir and efforts to clamp down on terrorism – in what is known as the “composite dialogue”.
India has been frustrated at what it sees as Pakistan’s reluctance to bring the perpetrators of terror to justice, feeding a climate of mistrust.
“The talks are extremely positive,” Home Secretary GK Pillai told reporters. “We have moved forward and the trust deficit has reduced.”
The two sides also agreed to set up a hot line to discuss terror threats in real time.
Dates for a visit to Pakistan have not been decided, but a Pakistani delegation would travel to India within 4-6 weeks, according to a joint statement.
“It’s a major step forward,” said Siddharth Varadarajan, Strategic Affairs Editor at the Hindu newspaper, adding it would hopefully accelerate diplomatic efforts for July.
Former Pakistani Interior Secretary Tasneem Noorani called the agreement to allow Indian investigators into Pakistan a breakthrough.
“I think there are big breakthroughs in the sense that the stumbling block was the Mumbai attack issue and there seems to be progress on it,” he said.
“Both Pakistan and India are saying, ‘All right, let’s proceed ahead, you send your chaps and we will send our chaps and let’s get on with it.”
