NEW DELHI: With the tentative date (Wednesday, December19) agreed to by both India and Pakistan for an MHA team's visit to Islamabad for finalizing modalities of the Pakistani judicial commission's second visit all but gone, New Delhi is still awaiting confirmation for a new schedule.
According to sources in the home ministry, the Pakistani delegation — led by interior minister Rehman Malik — had indicated December 19 as the tentative date for hosting the MHA team.
Though the MHA officials are confident of the visit — now seems likely to happen sometime next week — Islamabad's radio silence so far is puzzling. The early date was agreed upon as Malik kept insisting that the Pakistani judicial commission, which seeks to cross-examine key 26/11 witnesses here, be allowed to visit at the earliest. The Pakistani minister also linked completion of the panel's mission to a timely conclusion of the 26/11 trial in Rawalpindi.
India agreed, but put two riders to the Commission's second visit. Firstly, it sought an assurance from Islamabad that this would be the final visit by the panel. Second, New Delhi wanted Pakistani law officers to certify its admissibility in Pakistani courts. The latter was to be secured by an MHA team under joint secretary Dharmendra Sharma, who would travel to Pakistan to set modalities for the panel's India visit.
December 19 was tentatively agreed upon for the MHA team's trip, subject to confirmation from Islamabad. Malik left for Pakistan on Sunday (December 16), but since then there has been no word from the neighbour confirming the date.
This delay in confirmation of MHA team's visit goes back to more than a month, as New Delhi had sought dates in November. With no response coming from Pakistan for weeks, India was forced to take up the issue directly with Malik during his visit here.
Malik fails to keep word on MHA team’s Pak visit
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Malik fails to keep word on MHA team’s Pak visit
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Malik fails to keep word on MHA team’s Pak visit
