Islamabad April 23:
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the country's spy agency ISI was not involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 176 persons lost their lives.
His comments came a week after Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the Pakistani-Canadian accused in the Mumbai terror attack case, had claimed before a US court that he provided support to 26/11 terrorists at the behest of Pakistani government and ISI. Malik said Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was not involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He said if it had been involved, the Pakistan government would not have taken the matter to court.
Malik told a group of Indian journalists, brought here by the Pakistani government, that Pakistan intended to send a judicial commission to India to interview key persons involved in the probe into the Mumbai attacks to gather evidence needed to prosecute Pakistani suspects. During the Home Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan held in New Delhi on March 28 and 29, the Indian side agreed to the Pakistan's proposal to send a commission to India in connection with the 26/11 case. The Pakistani delegation too reciprocated by agreeing to accept an Indian commission to that country.
Malik said certain formalities for the commission visit were still being worked out. The minister said he had informed the Indian authorities that there were enough indications that the Taliban wanted to spread their tentacles to India. He, however, did not give details. Refereeing to the 2007 bombing of the Samjhauta Express train that killed 42 Pakistanis, Malik underlined the need for the Indian authorities to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.
Besides, Malik proposed that the recent cricket diplomacy should be followed by hockey diplomacy, with the teams of two countries playing three games each on either side of the border. The minister said he intended to invite his Indian counterpart P Chidambaram to watch one of the games in Pakistan if the proposal is accepted.
Malik also lauded the role of Chidambaram in helping improving the the ties between the two countries. He said the blame game has ended following the recent decision by India and Pakistan to resume the dialogue process.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the country's spy agency ISI was not involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 176 persons lost their lives.
His comments came a week after Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the Pakistani-Canadian accused in the Mumbai terror attack case, had claimed before a US court that he provided support to 26/11 terrorists at the behest of Pakistani government and ISI. Malik said Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was not involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He said if it had been involved, the Pakistan government would not have taken the matter to court.
Malik told a group of Indian journalists, brought here by the Pakistani government, that Pakistan intended to send a judicial commission to India to interview key persons involved in the probe into the Mumbai attacks to gather evidence needed to prosecute Pakistani suspects. During the Home Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan held in New Delhi on March 28 and 29, the Indian side agreed to the Pakistan's proposal to send a commission to India in connection with the 26/11 case. The Pakistani delegation too reciprocated by agreeing to accept an Indian commission to that country.
Malik said certain formalities for the commission visit were still being worked out. The minister said he had informed the Indian authorities that there were enough indications that the Taliban wanted to spread their tentacles to India. He, however, did not give details. Refereeing to the 2007 bombing of the Samjhauta Express train that killed 42 Pakistanis, Malik underlined the need for the Indian authorities to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.
Besides, Malik proposed that the recent cricket diplomacy should be followed by hockey diplomacy, with the teams of two countries playing three games each on either side of the border. The minister said he intended to invite his Indian counterpart P Chidambaram to watch one of the games in Pakistan if the proposal is accepted.
Malik also lauded the role of Chidambaram in helping improving the the ties between the two countries. He said the blame game has ended following the recent decision by India and Pakistan to resume the dialogue process.
