Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday night met his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik and is understood to have pressed for urgent action against JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and 26/11 handlers, including those who are believed to be in the Pakistani Army.
Chidambaram, the first Indian Home Minister to visit Pakistan in three decades, met Malik at the Interior Ministryin Islamabad, where he was accorded a red carpet welcome and given a ceremonial Guard of Honour.
In a special gesture, Malik went to the Chaklala Air Base in Rawalpindi and personally received Chidambaram, whoarrived to attend the SAARC Home Ministers' Conference on Saturday.
On their way to the VIP lounge, both Chidambaram and Malik were seen talking to each other and posed forphotographs.
During the meeting, Chidambaram, the first Indian Minister to visit Pakistan after the 26/11 strikes, isbelieved to have told Malik that the time has come for Pakistan to address issues concerning the deadly Mumbaiattacks with seriousness that they warrant.
The Indian Home Minister is also understood to have sought action against Saeed, whom New Delhi considers as themastermind of the 26/11 attacks, and handlers, including those who are belived to be serving in the Pakistani Army, of the deadly attack that killed 166 people.
{{/usCountry}}The Indian Home Minister is also understood to have sought action against Saeed, whom New Delhi considers as themastermind of the 26/11 attacks, and handlers, including those who are belived to be serving in the Pakistani Army, of the deadly attack that killed 166 people.
{{/usCountry}}Chidambaram is also believed to have sought voice samples of the Pakistani handlers and raised issues likeinfiltration on the border of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistanis who have infiltrated and are indulging in militant activities.
Speaking to reporters accompanying him in the special aircraft, Chidambaram said he will not say anything that willcast a shadow on the SAARC Home Ministers' Meeting, which is primary engagement in Islamabad.
He said he will tell Pakistan "politely, but firmly" that the time has come to address issues concerning the Mumbaiattacks.
"I will use the opportunity to bring home to Pakistan gravity of issues and the need for response that isappropriate to the gravity of the situation," he said.
"It has been 18 months since I took over. The time has come to address these issues (regarding Mumbai attacks) withseriousness that they warrant. That is what I am going to tell them politely, but firmly," Chidambaram said.
Asked whether Pakistan had declined to give voice samples at any point of time, Chidambaram said one of thedossiers given by Pakistan said a couple of people had declined to give their voice samples.
When asked whether India will accept Pakistan giving voice samples to any third country, he said: "I suggested onetime that don't give it to us. Give it to a third country so that it is subjected to forensic analysis in a third country.
Asked whether Pakistani Army personnel were among the handlers of the 26/11 attackers, he said: "If you are quotingfrom the dossier (that India gave to Pakistan) you are quoting correctly. But I do not know whether they are real names or assumed names."
Asked whether the handlers included two Pakistani Army Majors, Chidambaram said: "That is what the dossier said."On whether he would raise the Headley connection to the attacks, he said he won't do it directly.