India shares evidence with Pakistan on ISI 'link' to Kabul attack

New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS) India Friday shared sensitive information with Pakistan that pointed to the ISI's alleged complicity in the July 7 bombing outside its embassy in Kabul as the two countries ended a special meeting of their joint-terror mechanism on a 'positive' note here.

'Information on issues of mutual concern including the bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul was exchanged,' said a joint statement after the meeting of the special session of the joint anti-terror mechanism.

'The meeting was held in a positive, constructive and forward looking atmosphere,' the statement added.

Vivek Katju, special secretary in charge of political and international organisations in the external affairs ministry, held talks with the Pakistani delegation led by Aizaz Ahmad Choudhry, additional secretary in charge of South Asia, on a wide range of issues relating to terrorism.

The suicide attack outside India's embassy in Kabul, which India underlined has put the composite dialogue under stress, dominated the discussions.

India presented 'some evidence' of the involvement of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the July 7 bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul, official sources said.

Indian officials also alluded to intelligence intercepts by the US agencies that too had pointed to the ISI's role in the attack.

Pakistan predictably denied charges of any connection with the Kabul bombing, but reiterated its promise to continue an independent investigation into the incident that has cast a shadow over bilateral ties, sources added.

The attack on the Kabul embassy - the first attack on an Indian mission overseas - killed an Indian diplomat and a military attache.

India also reminded Pakistan of its Jan 6, 2004, pledge not to allow Pakistani territory to be used for terror activities against India and underlined that an atmosphere free from violence was necessary for carrying forward the composite dialogue process.

The two countries had agreed on the special session of the anti-terror mechanism during the talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in New York Sep 24.

India and Pakistan have held three meetings of the joint anti-terror mechanism, set up in 2006, to enhance cooperation in the crucial area of counter-terrorism and to assist each other with specific information for preventing terrorist attacks.