Rehman Malik calls Chidambaram, discusses Mumbai attack probe

Islamabad, Sep 6 (PTI) Pakistan Interior Minister
Rehman Malik Wednesday took with Home Minister P Chidambaram
the country's proposal to send a commission to India to
interview key witnesses in the Mumbai attacks case.
Malik raised the issue during a telephonic
conversation with Chidambaram in the wake of an anti-terrorism
court seeking a clarification from the Pakistan government on
whether it has received permission from Indian authorities for
the commission to travel to India.
Chidambaram said he would look into the Pakistani
proposal and respond after consulting legal experts, official
sources said.
Malik, who called Chidambaram, said the Pakistani
court has desired that, subject to the consent of Indian
authorities, the commission may visit to India to record the
testimony of the magistrate who recorded the confessional
statement of Ajmal Kasab and the investigating officer in the
Mumbai attacks case.
The commission also intends to study the post-mortem
reports of victims of the terrorist assault, Malik said.
In line with the desire of the court, the Interior
Ministry has sent a request through the Foreign Ministry to
India regarding the commission's proposed visit, he said.
The Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court conducting
the trial of seven Pakistani suspects has directed prosecution
lawyers to inform it about the Indian government's position on
the proposed commission at the next hearing scheduled for
October 16.
Malik and Chidambaram also discussed progress in the
trial of the Pakistani suspects.
Malik told his Indian counterpart that Pakistani
authorities are examining the last dossier sent by New Delhi
on the Mumbai incident and a response will be sent in "due
course of time".
Both ministers expressed satisfaction at the current
cooperation between Pakistan and India on issues of mutual
concern, the sources said.
They reaffirmed their resolve to fight against
terrorism and to share information to address the menace.
Malik congratulated Chidambaram on the holding of the
Commonwealth Games in India and wished him good luck for the
event.
He assured Chidambaram that the Pakistan government is
committed to help India in safeguarding the security of the
Commonwealth Games.
Any real-time intelligence shared will be "taken
seriously and acted upon", Malik was quoted as saying by the
sources