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Rediff.com  » News » Pakistan agrees to jointly fight terror

Pakistan agrees to jointly fight terror

By Ajay Kaul and Rezaul H Laskar in Islamabad
May 21, 2008 18:58 IST
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Describing terrorism as a "common menace," Pakistan Wednesday agreed to fight it jointly with India and gave a commitment for maintaining ceasefire on the Line of Control.

After extensive talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the two sides also reported progress on Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek issues and expressed willingness to push forward the confidence building measures, including those related to Jammu and Kashmir.

The two sides signed an agreement for consular access to prisoners with a desire to address this humanitarian issue.

"We agreed that terrorism is a common menace and should be fought jointly," Qureshi told a press conference after his talks with Mukherjee to review the fourth round of Composite Dialogue and set the tone for the next round to begin in July.

In this direction, he said the Joint Anti Terror Mechanism will be activated so that terror incidents "do not affect our ties."

He referred to the Jaipur bomb blasts and condemned them "from the heart because Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorism" with even former Premier Benazir Bhutto also falling victim to it.

On infiltration and firing at LoC, Qureshi said these would be checked in mutual interest. He said the ceasefire needed to be maintained and the tension kept to the minimal.

Mukherjee emphasised that the current dialogue process was based on three pillars which include ensuring an atmosphere free of terror and violence.

"I found a strong willingness and desire on Pakistani side to move towards full normalisation of relations," said Mukherjee, who met President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif.

"Secure, stable and prosperous India and Pakistan are in our mutual interests and good for our relations," Mukherjee said.

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Ajay Kaul and Rezaul H Laskar in Islamabad