India and Pakistan hold peace talks

New Delhi – The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan have opened a round of talks partly aimed at strengthening a peace deal shaken by fresh tensions linked to the 2008 terror attacks that killed 166 people in India’s financial capital, Mumbai.


India’s Ranjan Mathai and Pakistan’s Jalil Abbas Jilani met in New Delhi, days after India repeated charges of Pakistani involvement in the Mumbai attacks.


Jilani arrived Tuesday in New Delhi, promising India support in its fight against terrorism. He also urged India to share information about a key suspect who Indian officials say has revealed the Mumbai attacks were coordinated in Pakistan with state support.


India arrested the suspect last month. Investigators report Abu Jindal says he and the founder of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba were in a control room in the Pakistani city of Karachi when the attacks occurred.


Pakistan has denied involvement in the Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people. India has blamed Lashkar-e-Taiba.


During talks this week, Indian and Pakistani officials will also discuss trade, confidence-building measures and the disputed region of Kashmir.

 


Source: Agencies/ www.timesofearth.com