India to raise 26/11 trial with Pak, but not Ansari

India will not raise the issue of alleged 26/11 handler Zabiuddin Ansari when External Affairs Minister S M Krishna meets his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar during his three-day visit to Islamabad beginning tomorrow.

It is learnt that the government took this decision since "investigations are still under way". Ansari, allegedly one of the handlers in Lashkar's control room in Karachi during the Mumbai attacks, and believed to be the man whom Ajmal Kasab has referred to as 'Abu Jundal', is currently being interrogated by Mumbai Police.

However, sources said Krishna will "certainly" raise the issue of expeditious trial in the 26/11 case with Khar on Saturday. The issue of terrorism remains New Delhi's "core concern", they said.

According to sources, Krishna is not going to discuss the "objectionable web content" that was reportedly uploaded by Internet users in Pakistan, which was said to have incited violence against people from the Northeast. Evidence on this issue is still being collated and investigated, they said.

During the recent NAM summit in Tehran, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not raise this issue with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari .

Both New Delhi and Islamabad are expected to focus on the positives during the bilateral delegation-level talks as well as the joint commission meeting.

There are a slew of proposals on the table, including increasing air connectivity between the two countries. While the flights have reduced in the last four years, both sides are anticipating an increased demand after the new visa agreement is signed.

Opening up banking channels to facilitate increased trade between the two countries is also on the agenda. Pakistan is also very keen for New Delhi to allow its "non-news TV channels" to be aired in India, arguing that Pakistani viewers have access to Indian entertainment channels.

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