'Too early to share probe info'

The stage is set for India-Pakistan foreign-secretary-level talks in Thimpu next month, with Islamabad set to use the Samjhauta Express blast as a bargaining chip with regard to discussions on terror.

The stage is set for India-Pakistan foreign-secretary-level talks in Thimpu next month, with Islamabad set to use the Samjhauta Express blast as a bargaining chip with regard to discussions on terror.

HT Image

But New Delhi says investigations are "still on" into the blast and it was "too premature" to share the information.

A home ministry statement said the National Investigation Agency — that was investigating the Samjhauta Express blast that killed 68 people — had announced cash rewards for locating three suspects.

The NIA has put a reward of Rs10 lakh each on Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra and R2 lakh for information leading to arrest of Ashwini Chauhan. Dange and Kalsangra are suspected to have made the bombs used in other attacks at Mecca Masjid (May 2007), Ajmer Sharif (October 2007) and Malegaon (2008).

"We will raise the issue (at the foreign-secretary-level talks). It was a terror incident where our nationals were also killed. We want to know about the investigations and we maintain that terrorism sans regions is a threat everywhere," a Pakistani official told HT on the conditions of anonymity.

But sources in the MEA maintained "probe is still on" and it has to be "concluded first."

Pakistan’s foreign office has called in India's acting deputy high commissioner in Islamabad GV Srinivas to seek information about the probe.

"We are ready to discuss all issues," a government official said.

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao is likely to meet her Pakistan counterpart in Thimpu on February 6-7 on the sidelines of the SAARC meeting. Their meeting may lay the groundwork for Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's India visit.