New Delhi, May 25
India today expressed disappointment that the liberalised visa agreement with Pakistan could not be signed during the Home/Interior secretary level talks which concluded in Islamabad.

“We had gone there (Islamabad) fully prepared to sign the agreement,’’ Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai said at a press conference when asked why the much-anticipated accord that will facilitate easy travel between the two neighbours could not be inked.

He attributed the failure of the signing of the accord to "some delay in the procedure" in Islamabad and Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s desire that it should be inked at the political level. Mathai said India was keen to sign the accord as per the decision taken during the discussion between Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here in April.

"We also have reports that the Pakistani side referred to some delay in its procedure and the Pakistan Interior Minister's desire for political participation" in signing of the visa pact, he said.

The Indian official said both sides attached a lot of importance to signing the visa agreement. Mathai said Pakistan Interior Minister had invited Home Minister P Chidambaram to visit his country. In response, Chidambaram had informed the Pakistani side that he would visit Islamabad at a convenient time.

In Islamabad, Malik confirmed that the new liberalised visa regime with India would not be inked during the Home/ Interior secretary-level talks, indicating that it would be concluded at the political level. His remarks came following a meeting the Indian delegation, led by Home Secretary R K Singh, shortly after the latter concluded his talks with Pakistan's Interior Secretary Khwaja Siddique Akbar.

Indications now being given are that the agreement would be signed when External Affairs Minister S M Krishna visits Islamabad in the third week of July to review the progress in the resumed dialogue process with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar. The two countries are also expected to hold talks on Siachen and Sir Creek issues in the coming days.

The new visa accord was finalised by top officials of the two countries in October last year. Since then, the two countries had been looking for an opportunity to sign it. The meeting between the Home/Interior secretaries was thought to be an ideal opportunity to ink it. 

Pakistan on Friday reiterated what it calls its commitment to bring all the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to justice “expeditiously in accordance with due process of law”.

A joint statement issued at the conclusion of the two-day talks at the interior secretary level did not specifically mention the name of Hafiz Saeed, chief of the banned JuD, who, India says, is mastermind of the Mumbai attack.

The issue reportedly delayed finalisation of the statement till late Friday evening, due mainly to Pakistani objection after the talks were concluded on the second day at Bhurban hill resort, about 60 km from here.

Both sides welcomed the finalisation of the visa agreement and agreed to sign it soon. Pakistan said some internal approvals were under process and the agreement will be signed once they are in place. Drug trafficking, inordinate border-crossing of fishermen and exchange of prisoners also figured during the talks.

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation between the NIA of India and the FIA of Pakistan on issues of mutual concern, including Mumbai terror attacks investigation.

India has said it has provided additional evidence of Saeed’s involvement. Pakistan provided an update on the ongoing trial and investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks. It noted that it had agreed in principle to receive a judicial commission from India after a similar commission had visited India some time back. In this regard, modalities, mandate and composition of the commission will be worked out through diplomatic channels.

While concurring that terrorism poses a continuing threat to peace and security and full normalisation of bilateral relations, both sides reiterated their “firm and undiluted commitment” to fight and eliminate this scourge in all its forms and manifestations and bring to book those responsible for such crimes.

India provided information on the ongoing Samjhauta Express blast case investigation. It was mentioned by the Indian side that investigation in this case is still on and updated information will be shared with the Pakistan authorities concerned when the investigation is completed. India agreed to forward updated information on the investigation through diplomatic channel.

Pakistan noted the technical parameters suggested by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, for establishing a hotline between the Home Secretary of India and the Interior Secretary of Pakistan.