Token agreement on prisoners’ release: Main issues of concern unresolved
By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, May 31: Pakistan and India could not convince each other on their main issues of concern tabled during two-day secretary-level talks on curbing terrorism, illegal immigration and drug and human trafficking which concluded here on Wednesday, interior ministry sources told Dawn.
However, a joint declaration signed by Pakistan’s Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah and his Indian counterpart V. K. Duggal said the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and the two sides agreed to jointly fight terrorism, human trafficking, illegal immigration and counterfeit currency.
The two sides agreed to release more civilian prisoners and fishermen under the accord; 325 Pakistan prisoners will be released on June 30 and Pakistan will release 261 Indians on the same day.
The joint declaration was issued at a press conference held after the conclusion of the third round of talks held within the framework of composite dialogue.
The sources said the main item of Pakistan’s concern on the agenda was the opening of five Indian consulates in Afghanistan and their alleged involvement in patronising terrorism in different parts of the country, especially in Balochistan. The Indian delegation was asked what was the need to establish five consulates in a war-torn country.
The Indians rejected Pakistan’s concern and said that the consulates were opened with a view to gaining maximum benefit from the ongoing reconstruction activities in Afghanistan.
The sources said that Indian’s top-most demand was extradition of Daud Ibrahim who according to them, is hiding somewhere in Pakistan.
Pakistan refuted the claim that Mr Ibrahim had been provided shelter in Pakistan and said they had no information regarding his whereabouts.
The Indian delegation was told that Mr Ibrahim was an Indian national and, therefore, Pakistan should not be blamed for what the alleged underworld boss had done in his own country.
Interior Secretary Kamal Shah said that only civilian prisoners would be released on June 30, on a reciprocal basis, and the issue of ‘security prisoners’ would be dealt with by the defence authorities of the two countries.
He said some 472 Pakistanis were languishing in Indian jails and the national status of 325 of them had been confirmed, and they would be repatriated. Out of 351 Indian prisoners in Pakistan, 261 would be released on the same date, he added.
Pakistan and India have already released 79 and 59 fishermen, respectively, this week. The two sides would exchange lists of remaining prisoners on July 15.
Mr Shah said they agreed to strengthen cooperation on issues of common interest like terrorism, human smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
The two countries, he said, were gradually heading towards solving all disputes and at every meeting the items on the agenda were increased. “The meeting held at the interior secretary level in 2004 focused only on drug smuggling and terrorism but now, at this meeting, the issue of prisoners, illegal immigrants have been included,” he said.
Replying to a question about Sarbajeet Singh, who has been sentenced to death for involvement in acts of terrorism in Pakistan, the secretary said that the issue had not been discussed but anyone committing crime on either side of the border would have to face the law of the land.
Indian Home secretary V. K. Duggal said the process of dialogue had been started to ensure lasting peace in the Subcontinent. “We do not claim that all the disputes can be resolved at such a small meeting, but such meetings help us to step forward towards permanent peace,” he said.
He said Pakistan and India both had made a solid economic take-off. “Let us enjoy the fruit of economic growth,” he added.
The joint declaration reiterated commitment to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestation and emphasised the need for effective steps for complete eradication of the menace. They also underlined the need for pursuing effective and sustained actions against terrorists.
The declaration said the two sides also agreed to early release of “inadvertent crossers, minors, senior citizens and disabled persons who were not involved in any specific case.”
The meeting decided to ensure implementation of a decision reached at the second round of talks in August last year for immediate notification of prisoners, grant of consular access within three months and immediate repatriation on confirmation of national status/completion of sentence. Both sides also agreed on the need to ensure humane treatment of prisoners.
The two sides noted with satisfaction the exchange of information between the Anti-Narcotics Force of Pakistan and Narcotics Control Board of India. In this regard they agreed that a memorandum of understanding would be signed by the agencies.
