Modi-Sharif talks: Mumbai terror trial to be expedited

India and Pakistan on Friday agreed to expedite the trial of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, hold a meeting of their National Security Advisors and to cooperate with each other to eliminate terrorism after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif here.

Reading out a joint statement, the foreign secretaries of both countries, Pakistan's Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary and India's S. Jaishankar, said that the Modi-Sharif meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.

"The two leaders exchanged views of bilateral and regional interest."

Chaudhary said the two leaders agreed that "India and Pakistan have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development".

"To do so they are prepared to discuss all outstanding issues."

"Both leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to cooperate with each other to eliminate this menace from South Asia," he said.

They also agreed on five steps, including a meeting in New Delhi between the two NSAs to discuss all issues connected to terrorism.

An early meeting of the DG of the Border Security Force of India and the DG of the Pakistani Rangers followed by meeting of the DGMOs (Director Generals of Military Operations).

A decision for release of fishermen in each other's custody along with their boats within 15 days mechanism for facilitating religious tourism and both sides agreed to discuss the ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial, including additional information like providing voice samples.

As many as 166 people, including foreigners, were killed in Mumbai in a terror attack on November 26, 2008. The attack was carried out by 10 terrorists from Pakistan.

Prime Minister Sharif invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Pakistan for the SAARC summit 2016, and Modi accepted the invitation, said Jaishankar.

Both the officials refused to take questions.

--Indo-Asian news Service

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