M A I N   N E W S

India, Pakistan mull meeting of RAW, ISI chiefs
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

Pakistan and India are taking into consideration a proposal to bring their intelligence chiefs on the same table amid a series of confidence-building measures to foster goodwill between the neighbours.

The proposal is part of numerous mechanisms being explored to reduce trust deficit between the nuclear-armed neighbours, official sources said.

According to Express Tribune, the US was instrumental in persuading Islamabad and New Delhi to discuss the possibility of a meeting between the heads of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

The proposal, if materialised, could mark the beginning of a new phase in the relationship between the two countries.

Relationship between the two countries has shown significant improvement in recent months. However, a breakthrough on the most contentious issues is still awaited. Hopes are running high with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expected to travel to Pakistan later this year.

A Pakistani official confirmed that several proposals, including regular interaction between the security agencies of the two countries, were on the table.

“But it is too early to say anything at this stage,” the official added, referring to the probability of face-to-face talks between ISI and RAW chiefs.

When approached, a security official, however, expressed ignorance about the development. “We are not privy to any such proposal,” the official added.

In the past, efforts to bring spymasters of the two countries on the same table have not succeeded. Following the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, the government announced that the ISI chief would visit India to help authorities in investigations. However, the trip had to be cancelled after a strong reaction from the country’s security establishment.