India and Pakistan have begun work to put in place their first counter-terrorism hotline between home secretaries of both the countries.
For now, both the sides are working on a mutually-acceptable “encryption code’’ to ward off threats from attempts on either side or a “third country’’ to compromise the telecommunication line, which would be the first such direct line between the top officials in-charge of internal security in both the countries.
So far, both India and Pakistan have not accepted the codes suggested by either countries, a senior government official said hinting at the continuing “trust deficit’’ between the two countries.
The official revealed that the decision to set up a hotline between the top bureaucrats of the two countries has hit several “security’’ hurdles owing to apprehensions and security concerns on both sides. “The encryption codes suggested by us are not agreeable to them and what they are suggesting has not been accepted by us. The telephone line needs to be highly secure to ward off any misuse and compromise. It also needs to be insulated from possible attempts by a third party to be privy to it,” the official said.
Government sources said that it may take few months before the hotline is set up. During the last home secretary level talks between India and Pakistan held in March 2011, both the countries had decided to set up a hotline between the home secretaries to facilitate “real time’’ sharing of information on “terrorist threats’’.
The issue is expected to figure during the next round of talks expected to be held in Islamabad after the Winter Session of Parliament.
The forthcoming home secretary level talks will not follow the pattern of a structured dialogue, senior government sources said.
There will be a discussion and follow-up on the decisions taken at the previous meeting including liberalisation of the visa regime, exchange of prisoners, and action taken by Pakistan on the Mumbai terror attacks.
In March, both sides had agreed that it was important for them to remain engaged on outstanding issues.