Let's exchange hearts not dossiers: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD Terming his talks with his Indian counterpart P Chidambaram successful, Rehman Malik said on Friday said that we (Pakistan and India) should 'exchange hearts in stead of exchanging dossiers to build bilateral confidence. He gave these remarks after holding a meeting with Chidambaram, who arrived here earlier in the day to attend the SAARC Home Ministers Conference and hold a meeting with Malik. Earlier, during their meeting that lasted for over one hour, both the Home Ministers discussed issues relating to militancy and the latest investigations into the Mumbai carnage, sources disclosed to TheNation. Malik received the India dignitary at Chaklala Airbase earlier in the day. The sources said that during the meeting the Indian Home Minister asked Pakistan to act against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, who, according to India, is the master of the Mumbai attacks. However, according to the sources, Rehman Malik informed his Indian counterpart that Pakistans judiciary is independent and the government has nothing to do with it. Meanwhile, in the meeting of SAARC Interior Secretaries it was agreed that a convention would be called to counter terrorism. Pakistans Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman Chaudhry presided over the meeting. The Interior Ministers meeting is scheduled to be held today. During the meeting, the issues relating to terrorism, immigration, and cooperation between the police force were thoroughly discussed. All member countries reached a consensus that information sharing was a tool, which helped them in countering terrorism. It was also decided that the member countries would issue sticker visas to journalists and business community and this would be valid for travel to all SAARC member countries. However, prior information have to be given to relevant authorities in this regard, the meeting decided. The sources informed that during the meeting, India strongly opposed visa exemption and said that the prevailing situation does not allow them to give visa exemption. The sources informed that most of the member countries reached consensus over most of the proposals. Later, Qamar Zaman told the media that it was proposed that the member countries would issue 100 sticker visas per year. To a query, he said that during the meeting, it was decided that Pakistan would provide financial and technical support to Sri Lanka for establishing institutes aiming to counter various offences including drug smuggling and human trafficking. He said that Institute of Criminology and SAARCPOL would be thoroughly discussed in the next meeting. Talking to reporters, SAARC Secretary General Dr Sheel Kant Sharma expressed his satisfaction over the ongoing conference. To a query, he said that he was optimistic that all issues between India and Pakistan would be settled amicably as both have started dialogue.

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