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Meeting The fourth Indo-Pak joint anti-terror mechanism talks round started on Friday, October 24 in New Delhi. PM Manmohan Singh and President Asif Ali Zardari during their meeting on September 24 in New York, on the sidelines of the UNGC summit had agreed to hold joint anti-terrorism meetings at regular intervals. The Delhi meeting was a part of the agreement. Vivek Katju, special secretary in the external affairs ministry led the Indian delegation while Pakistan delegation was led by Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, additional secretary in the foreign affairs ministry. According to an official, “The meeting was held in a positive, constructive and forward looking atmosphere”.

Kabul Attack During the meeting both the sided discussed to increase cooperation in identifying counter-terrorism mechanism and also assist in the investigations into terror related matters. Both the sides exchanged information on all issues that are of mutual concern including the Kabul bomb attack on the Indian Embassy. During the meeting Kabul attack was the main issue on which both the sides discussed. India shared the evidence and also the intelligence intercepts by the US agencies with their counterparts. All this evidence points to the ISI’s alleged role in the attack. But Pakistani side has denied the possibility of any kind of connection between ISI and Kabul attack but has promised to continue an independent investigation in the case.

Peace-Process Kabul bombing had put the composite Decalogue between both the countries under stress. Though US and Afghanistan also had openly held ISI responsible for the attack but Pakistan government has repeatedly denied the charges. After the attack Pakistan government was under pressure as the world community had condemned ISI for its alleged involvement in it. Because of the political problems  both the countries could not go ahead wit the peace process for more than one year. Increase in infiltration, LoC fire exchange and Kabul attack had put the peace process under pressure. It was only after the formation of new government in Pakistan that the peace-process was resumed. Current meeting was one of the part of peace initiatives that both the countries have started after the resumption of dialog.