India, Pakistan to initiate negotiations on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty

New Delhi, May 31 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday said India and Pakistan have agreed in principle to initiate negotiations on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

Presenting the report card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for the month of May here today, Chidambaram said: "On May 24-25, 2012, the second round of Home/Interior Secretary level bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan was held at Islamabad and a joint statement was issued, he said. The two sides reached an agreement on the release of fishermen who have completed their sentences, along with their boats."

"Agreement has also reached on transfer of prisoners. The two sides agreed in principle to initiate negotiations on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty," he added.

India and Pakistan agreed to enhance cooperation between their investigative agencies on issues of mutual concerns, including the 26/11 attacks during the Home Secretary-level talks held earlier this month.

The two sides, however, failed to ink the much-anticipated liberalised visa regime, merely agreeing to do it an early date after Islamabad insisted on political participation.

At the meeting between Home Secretary R K Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Khwaja Siddique Akbar, the two nations agreed that terrorism poses continuing threat to peace and full normalisation of bilateral relations.

A joint statement issued by India and Pakistan after the two-day talks said they agreed to sign a new visa agreement at an early date. (ANI)