Moving swiftly with the intention to bring 26/11 perpetrators in Pakistan to justice, New Delhi has sent a reminder to Islamabad to finalise the visit of its National Investigation Agency to Islamabad to collect 26/11 related information from Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency. However, after India had sent 26/11 convict and Pakistan citizen Ajmal Kasab to the gallows, New Delhi is apprehensive that the visit may not be immediate and fruitful given the altered scenario. It also feels Pakistan may delay the Indian team’s visit. New Delhi meanwhile is also cautious as it wants the visit to be successful. The NIA-FIA dialogue will be the first between the two countries bringing together the two agencies for cooperation on terror related issues.
Islamabad has not responded to New Delhi’s request for dates for the proposed visit so far despite a reminder from the union home ministry. “We have sent a reminder through the MEA. it remains to be seen how soon Islamabad responds to New Delhi on the issue,” an official remarked. Security sources said Islamabad may do a re-think before allowing the Indian team on its soil in the coming months.
The NIA-FIA dialogue will be the first between the two countries.
Pakistan had in-principle agreed to allow a team of Indian investigators to go to that country after New Delhi had put pressure on it saying that it would allow a second visit of the Pakistani judicial commission only after its visit to that country.
The NIA team was keen to examine the evidence collected against arrested LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others, who are being tried in 26/11 terror attack case there. The NIA meanwhile also wanted to visit Pakistan to try to understand why the Pakistani court was not ready to accept the evidence collected by a Pakistani judicial commission during its visit to India in March. The issue had been discussed between the home ministers of the two countries recently.