New Delhi, June 20 (IANS) A ministerial panel on security Sunday decided that terrorism and Pakistan’s actions in eliminating the scourge will dominate the talks between Home Minister P. Chidamabaram and his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of a SAARC meeting in Islamabad June 26.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the chair, met here Sunday evening to decide the broad outlines and mandate for the home minister’s Pakistan visit.
The home ministers of India and Pakistan are expected to meet in Islamabad during the SAARC home minister’s meet June 26.
Sources said Chidambaram, in his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik, will raise India’s concerns on terrorism and ask Islamabad to act against anti-India terror groups in that country.
Chidambaram will also seek the expedition of the 2008 Mumbai attack trial in a Pakistani court, the source said.
Maoist violence also dominated the agenda of the CCS meeting, which decided against deploying army sappers, who are experts in removing landmines, in the areas dominated by the Left-wing rebels.
The idea of using the army for demining operations in the areas affected by the Left-wing extremism was floated by the home ministry but has met with serious objection from the defence ministry.
Army sappers won’t even be used or attached to paramilitary battalions for anti-Maoist operations, a source said after the CCS meeting.
