‘Enough proof in dossier to Pak’

“We have provided extensive documentation on Hafiz Saeed and others,who are under trial for their involvement in Mumbai terror attack. We believe there is enough evidence in that for Pakistan to take the case forward against the seven accused,” India’s Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said at a press briefing here. “We have provided dossiers and a great deal of information that should give enough lead to Pakistani authorities to take the case forward and take action. In the dossier is also the confession of Kasab.”

Referring to Malik’s remarks about the Mumbai terror attack accused,Mathai said,“It would seem he believes that there is evidence against him (Kasab).”

On Pakistan’s proposal to send a Judicial Commission to India,which would record statements of Chief Investigating Officer,Metropolitan Magistrate and two doctors in connection with the trial of the Mumbai attack,Mathai said that India has to set up a court or appoint a judge to receive the Commission.

As for Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s statement that all issues including Sir Creek,Siachen and Kashmir were discussed during his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,the Indian side maintained that these issues came up as part of the bilateral dialogue,which was essentially focused on cross-border trade.

Singh also had a series of other bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the SAARC summit on Wednesday and Thursday,including with Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley,Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed,Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

At his meeting with Rajapaksa,Singh was said to have expressed concern over the problems of fishermen and stressed the need to ensure that the waters remain free of any violence. Rajapaksa told Singh that Sri Lankan Navy has been instructed that there should be no violence and assistance should be given to fishermen in distress.

They were of the view that fishermen’s associations from India and North Sri Lanka should talk about their common concerns.

As for the Indian concerns about internally displaced people in Sri Lanka,Rajapaksa said about 7,000 such people would be resettled by December.

Sheikh Hasina spoke about her visit to Teen Bigha corridor and expressed appreciation that her “dream” of 24-hour access has been fulfilled. As for the Teesta treaty,Singh was said to have told his Bangladeshi counterpart that “from our side,we need some more time to build a consensus”.