India, Pakistan to hold talks in Islamabad

May 23, 2012

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NEW DELHI, India – A 12-member delegation led by Home Secretary R K Singh left for Islamabad on Wednesday (May 23rd) for two days of Home Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan in which a new visa agreement will be signed, local media reported.

Indian home ministry spokesperson Ira Joshi told The Times of India the visa deal will include provisions for group tourist visas, visas on arrival and business visas.

However, the first of such talks since March 2011 will also focus on counterterrorism, narcotics, Indian fugitives hiding in Pakistan and humanitarian issues. India continues to stress the importance of Pakistan bringing to justice Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and the alleged mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The talks come shortly after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's April 8th visit to India, in which he and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussed the importance of co-ordinated counterterror policies.

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