Rehman, Chidambaram vow to fight terror together

ISLAMABAD, June 26: Pakistan and India left little doubt on Saturday that the distrust nagging them since the Nov 2008 attacks in Mumbai would not go away soon as Interior Minister P. Chidambaram urged Islamabad to try more suspects for the strikes.

His counterpart promptly countered the demand, saying “we should respect verdicts by our courts”.

The two ministers made the remarks at a joint press conference after the conclusion of Mr Chidambaram’s two-day visit, during which he also attended the Saarc interior ministers’ meeting.

In an upbeat note, however, they said the two governments had agreed to fight terrorism jointly.

Mr Chidambaram’s remarks about the trials came in reply to a journalist’s question. He said: “Nobody is questioning anyone’s intentions. It is the outcome that will decide whether we are on the right track or not.

“We should allow the outcome to become visible. We have agreed that there are certain outcomes that we are looking forward to.”

Rehman Malik was asked whether a new case would be filed against Hafiz Saeed, the leader of Jamaatud Dawa. The minister replied: “We respect our courts. If our Supreme Court has given judgment, we ought to respect it. The new evidence and the new dossier that has come to us are being looked into. We are looking into dossier and information and we will move accordingly.”

Mr Chidambaram countered the assertion: “The outcome that we are expecting that rigorous investigation will follow up the leads that are available, all the masterminds and handlers behind the 26/11 attacks must be brought to justice, and at the same time we must ensure that terrorists have no free run either in Pakistan or India.

“Both countries must work together as well as with other counties of South Asia to wipe out terrorism.”

JOINT FIGHT: The two ministers said they had agreed to enhance intelligence sharing between the Federal Investigation Agency and India’s Central Bureau of Intelligence. The agencies would jointly look into acts of terrorism, including the Mumbai attacks.

“We will work together to clear this menace (terrorism) and I am grateful for the wisdom and leadership he (Mr Chidambaram) has shown during the Saarc conference and suggestion he made have been widely respected and included in the draft report,” Mr Malik said.

“Our FIA and Indian CBI will interact with each other on the matter of terrorism, including Mumbai blasts. I think both nations want good relations and friendship between us. It is very good beginning and we will take it to the positive end.”

Mr Malik said the two sides had decided to work together and give a very clear massage to terrorists that “we are united and stand together”.

Mr Chidambaram said: “We come to end of the Saarc ministerial meeting. We have had a productive meeting today.”

The Indian home minister also met President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

“I will leave with the conviction that we both have exchanged views and understood requirement of the situation. We have agreed that we should address this situation with seriousness that it deserves.

“I will go back with confidence that outcome of our mutual interaction will be very good for both countries.”

Mr Malik described his one-on-one meeting with Mr Chidambaram as one of his best so far. “We have had the best meeting. Let us be positive and promote harmony.”

Endorsing the resolve of his Indian counterpart against terrorism, Mr Malik said that the fight against terrorism and extremism would be taken to a “logical conclusion”.

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