News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp
Home  » News » Pakistan ready to discuss prisoners issue with India

Pakistan ready to discuss prisoners issue with India

Source: PTI
Last updated on: August 27, 2005 23:04 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
As efforts gain momentum to seek release of Sarabjeet Singh, Pakistan on Saturday said it was ready to discuss the issue of prisoners in jails of each other's countries during the two-day home secretary level talks beginning on Monday.

Arriving in New Delhi for talks with his Indian counterpart V K Duggal on issues of terrorism and drug trafficking, Pakistan's Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah said he had come here with a "very positive mind", but remained evasive whether Singh's issue would be discussed.

"Usually the agenda is terrorism and drug trafficking but this time we have requested that we would like to discuss the issue of prisoners held in both the countries," Shah told reporters.

Asked whether the issue of Sarabjit Singh, sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in the 1990 bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan, would figure in the discussions, he said, "Let us see".

Shah, who is heading an 11-member delegation, said, "We hope and we are confident that it will be a positive meeting. It will be useful to both the countries and their people."

Terrorism and drug trafficking are among the issues being discussed by the two countries as part of the ongoing composite dialogue process. Two rounds have already been held during which India has been pressing Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism at the two countries' border and fulfil the promise made by its President Pervez Musharraf in January 6, 2004 joint statement. A joint statement is likely to be issued at the end of the talks on Tuesday.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: PTI© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.