Indo-Pak talks back on track

New Delhi: Four months after the India-Pakistan talks were derailed by the Mumbai blasts, the dialogue is back on track.

At the end of the two-day Secretary level talks, there was no major movement, but the two sides announced the composition of the new Joint Anti-terror Mechanism.

Three members on each side comprised the Joint Anti-terror Mechanism.

India presented material indicating Pakistani links in various terror strikes, but significantly, nothing on the Mumbai blasts because, according to Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, a chargesheet hasn't been filed as yet in the Mumbai court.

Later, speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan outlined its mandate.

"What is important is to prevent such incidents. We had an agreement on this in Havana and now both the countries have agreed on the format. When we have something to offer, we can use this channel and if India has something to offer us, then they too can use this via medium," he said.

Khan also confirmed that there was no deadline for Pakistan to act on the material given by India.

But will the mechanism deliver results? That will be known only next month when the officials meet for the first time.

India will expect concrete follow up on the material given on the Delhi, Varanasi and Bangalore terror attacks as well as on the foiled Mysore terror attack and the alleged terrorist Mohammad Fahad - the man Pakistan seeks consular access to.

On Siachen, while Pakistani officials suggested progress had been achieved, none was reflected in the joint statement.

Shiv Shankar Menon explained this saying, "The beginning of this process of disengagement is being prior authentication of present positions. I think what he was trying to say was their position on the same position. There is still a gap between our positions."

However, both sides did agree on a nuclear risk reduction pact, a meeting of experts next month to work co-ordinates for a joint survey of Sir Creek - survey to be done by next February, the release next month of fishermen and prisoners who have served their sentences, and to finalise an updated visa agreement

Nonetheless, there was some disappointment as no new Confidence Building Measures were discussed and nor were dates for a cross LoC truck service - already agreed upon in principle.

(With inputs from Vidya Shankar Aiyer)

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