Amnesty asks India to commute Guru’s death sentence

The human rights watchdog, Amnesty International has expressed concern over the fate of mercy petitions including that of a Kashmir youth, Afzal Guru whose sentence, according to the Amnesty, by a special court under the Prevention of Terrorism Act does not conform with India’s obligations under international human rights law.

Amnesty International Chief Executive, G Anantha Padmanabhan in a letter to the Indian President, Pranab Mukherjee, on Thursday asked New Delhi to abolish death penalty and stop further executions after Ajmal Kasab and commute death sentences to imprisonments.

Referring to the execution of Ajmal Kasab, the Amnesty chief executive said that “by executing him, the Indian government has violated the internationally recognized right to life and signalled a step away from the regional and global trends towards abolition of the death penalty.”

Anantha Padmanabhan said Amnesty is concerned about the manner in which Indian authorities carried out Kasab’s execution on 21 November, 2012. “A notification by Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, published on the same day, stated that you had rejected his petition for mercy on 5 November”.

“According to reports, Ajmal Kasab himself was only informed of this rejection on 12 November. It is unclear whether he was aware of possibility of seeking a review of the decision. Information about the rejection of the petition for mercy and the date of execution was not made available to the public until after the execution had been carried out. Authorities in India have made public claims that this lack of public announcement and secrecy surrounding the execution were to avoid intervention by human rights activists,” he said.

“Transparency on use of death penalty is among fundamental safeguards of due process that prevent the arbitrary deprivation of life. Making information public with regard to legislation providing for the death penalty as well as its implementation allows for an assessment of whether fair trial and other international standards are being respected. In resolution 2005/59, adopted on 20 April 2005, the UN Commission on Human Rights called upon all states that still maintain the death penalty “to make available to the public information with regard to the imposition of the death penalty and to any scheduled execution,” the Amnesty official added.

“Amnesty is disappointing that the Indian State has chosen to carry out Ajmal Kasab’s execution in this manner,” he said.

“Amnesty is concerned about a further nine petitions for mercy involving 14 individuals that have been sent to the (Indian) Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration for a second time, which we understand is usual practice when there is a new minister in office. On December 10, 2012, Indian Home Minister told reporters he will review the petitions before him after the end of the winter session of Parliament. One of these petitions concerns Mohammad Afzal Guru who was sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in the 2001 Parliament attack. Mohammad Afzal Guru was tried by a special court under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Amnesty has found that these trials did not conform with India’s obligations under international human rights law,” Anantha Padmanabhan said.

He said Amnesty opposes death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime; guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual; or the method used by the state to carry out the execution. “It opposes it as a violation of the right to life as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.”

He said the use of death penalty in India is riddled with systemic flaws. Of particular concern are: the broad definition of “terrorist acts” for which the death penalty can be imposed; insufficient safeguards on arrest; obstacles to confidential communication with counsel; insufficient independence of special courts from executive power; insufficient safeguards for the presumption of innocence; provisions for discretionary closed trials; sweeping provisions to keep secret the identity of witnesses; and limits on the right to review by a higher tribunal.

“On behalf of Amnesty International, I urge Indian president to commute all death sentences to terms of imprisonment Immediately halt plans to carry out further executions, and establish an official moratorium on executions as the first step to abolishing the death penalty,” Anantha Padmanabhan said.

He said wherever mercy petitions have been rejected, the government should respect the practice of promptly informing the individual, his/ her lawyers, his/ her family, of the decision, reasons for the decision, and proposed date of execution, as well as the public, of any scheduled execution.

In The NEWS : Ajmal Amir Kajab

Photograph of Ajmal Kasab, one of the ten terrorists involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Victoria Terminus station. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Timeline: Ajmal Kasab’s journey to the noose

The following is the chronology of events in 26/11 terror attack case in which the Supreme Court (SC) today upheld the death sentence of lone Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab:

Nov 26, 2008: Kasab and 9 terrorists launched acommando raid in Mumbai.

Nov 27, 2008: At 1.30am, Kasab caught and placed under arrest, admitted to Nair Hospital.

Nov 29, 2008: All places under siege secured, 9 terrorists were killed.

Nov 30, 2008: Kasab confesses before police.

Dec 27/28, 2008: An identification parade was held.

Jan 13, 2009: ML Tahaliyani was appointed the 26/11 judge.

Jan 16, 2009: Arthur Road Jail was selected for Kasab’s trial.

Feb 5, 2009: Kasab’s DNA samples match with articles found in Kuber.

Feb 20/21, 2009: Kasab made a confession before the magistrate.

Feb 22, 2009: Ujjwal Nikam was appointed special public prosecutor.

Feb 25, 2009: A charge sheet against Kasab, two others were filed in court.

Apr 1, 2009: Anjali Waghmare was appointed Kasab’s lawyer.

Apr 15, 2009: Anjali Waghmare was removed as Kasab’s lawyer.

Apr 16, 2009: Abbas Kazmi was appointed as Kasab’s lawyer.

Apr 17, 2009: Kasab’s confession was opened in court, he retracted.

Apr 20, 2009: The prosecution charged Kasab on 312 counts.

Apr 29, 2009: Experts opined that Kasab was major, .

May 6, 2009: Charges were framed, Kasab charged on 86 counts, but he denied the charges.

May 8, 2009: The first eyewitness deposed and identified Kasab.

June 23, 2009: Non-bailable warrants issued were against 22 including Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

Nov 30, 2009: Abbas Kazmi was removed as Kasab’s lawyer

Dec 1, 2009: KP Pawar took the place of Kazmi.

Dec 16, 2009: The prosecution completed its case in 26/11.

Dec 18, 2009: Kasab denied all charges.

March 31, 2010: The arguments in the case end. Special Judge ML Tahaliyani reserves judgment for May 3, 2010.

May 3, 2010: Kasab was convicted, Sabauddin Ahmed and Faheem Ansari were acquitted of all charges.

May 6, 2010: Kasab was sentenced to death by the trial court.

Feb 21, 2011: The Bombay High Court upheld the death sentence to Kasab.

March 2011: Kasab wrote a letter to the SC challenging the HC order.

Oct 10, 2011: The SC stayed the execution of the death sentence awarded to the Pakistani terrorist

Oct 10, 2011: Kasab told the SC that he was brainwashed like a “robot” into committing the heinous crime in the name of “God” and that he did not deserve capital punishment owing to his young age.

Oct 18, 2011: The Supreme Court admited the Maharashtra government’s appeal challenging the acquittal of Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, co-accused of Ajmal Kasab, in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Jan 31, 2012: Kasab told the SC that he was not given a free and fair trial in the case.

Feb 23, 2012: The SC heard intercepted conversations between the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and their Pakistani handlers and watched the CCTV footage of the carnage.

Apr 25, 2012: The SC reserves its verdict after a marathon hearing, spanning over two and a half months.

Aug 29, 2012: The SC upheld the death sentence of Kasab and the acquittal of two alleged Indian co-conspirators in the case.

Kasab’s was a unique case: ATS chief Maria

Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Maria on Wednesday said that the trial and sentencing of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab was culmination of a “unique” investigation, and a daunting task accomplished by various agencies.

“It was a unique investigation in which 657 witnesses were examined and investigating agencies from all over the world were involved,” he said, reacting to the Supreme Court ruling upholding the death sentence for Kasab.

The investigation was challenging, Maria said, as the conspiracy had been hatched on the foreign soil and the terrorists were well-equipped. The ATS was still hunting for the remaining accused, most of whom were in Pakistan, he said.

He thanked various departments of Mumbai police, forensic department and special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam for their efforts.

Referring to the probe of low-intensity blasts in Pune on August 1, Maria said ATS would try to get a break-through in the case before the Ganesh festival as directed by the state government. The investigation in the J M Road blast was making a good progress, he added.

Vociferous demand to execute Ajmal Kasab at the earliest

The Supreme Court verdict upholding the death sentence of Ajmal Kasab in 26/11 Mumbai attacks case on Wednesday led to a vociferous demand for execution of the Pakistani terrorist at the earliest from parties, kin of the victims and other quarters in the country.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said government, on its part, will ensure that if Kasab files a mercy plea, it is disposed of in minimum time and asked Pakistan to punish other perpetrators who have taken shelter on its soil.

“…Now, he should be given complete sentence quickly. Punishment should be executed quickly,” Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh said reacting to the Supreme Court verdict on Kasab’s appeal against his conviction and sentence.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Those who wage war against the country and kill innocents deserve no mercy…. Kasab should be hanged without any delay … enough of ‘biryani’ for him.”

Describing Pakistan as “a terror factory”, he said the government “must take all steps to destroy” terror infrastructure and sought a separate set of laws to deal with terror-related cases.

“No leniency should be shown against this kind of a terrorist. They have tried to destroy the peace of the nation, so he (Kasab) should be hanged as fast as possible,” Naqvi said.

Welcoming the verdict, the ruling Congress also favoured quick execution of Kasab.

Law Minister Salman Khurshid described the judgement as “inevitable” and rejected suggestions of delay in the final verdict saying a country governed by rule of law cannot mete out street justice.

“I had seen the Bombay High Court judgement. It was very, very complicated judgement for the judiciary to have given. They must have worked very hard on it. That’s been upheld by the Supreme Court. I think most people who do analysis of law would say this was an inevitable endorsement that would have come,” he told reporters in Delhi.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who led the case against Kasab during the trial process, said the death sentence awarded to Kasab should be executed as soon as possible so that it gives a strong signal to the terrorists that law takes stern action against such acts.

He also demanded that he prosecution against perpetrators of the 2008 terror strikes should now be expedited by the prosecuting agency of Pakistan, he said.

“The (prosecution in Pakistan) should not delay the trial on the ground that India has to furnish evidence because conspiracy behind the terror attacks was hatched in Pakistan and it is for them to prove the same,” Nikam said, adding the apex court in India has also held that criminal conspiracy behind the attacks was hatched in Pakistan.

Eknath Ombale, the brother of assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale who died fighting terrorists during the 26/11 terror attacks, said if Afzal Guru had been hanged 10 years ago, then 26/11 and 13/7 incidents would not have happened.

“We are very happy with the verdict. We are now waiting for it to be implemented,” he said.

“The truth has come out before the world. I request the government to implement the sentence,” he mentioned.

“Had Afzal Guru been hanged 10 years ago, maybe 26/11 and 13/7 wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

“All Indians are awaiting the moment when Kasab will be hanged,” Ombale said.

Kasab clever & shrewd, kills without a twinge of conscience: SC

ajmal-amir-kasab-photo-terrorist-going-to-be-hanged-image-india-attacked.jpg copy (Photo credit: Shekhar_Sahu)

Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab is “quite clever and shrewd” and killed without “the slightest twinge of conscience” said the Supreme Court today, dismissing his plea for leniency on purported ground that he was brain washed by Lashkar-e-Toiba and acted like a robot.

“We are unable to accept the submission that the appellant was a mere tool in the hands of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. He joined the Lashkar-e-Toiba around December 2007 and continued as its member till the end, despite a number of opportunities to leave it.

This shows his clear and unmistakable intention to be a part of the organisation and participate in its designs,” said a bench headed by Justice Aftab Alam.

“It is true that he is not educated but he is a very good and quick learner, has a tough mind and strong determination. He is also quite clever and shrewd,” it further said.

The court said Kasab has many times described himself as a patriotic Pakistani and has no remorse for waging war against India.

“Even after his arrest, he regarded himself as a ‘watan parast,’ a patriotic Pakistani at war with this country. Where is the question of his being brain-washed or acting under remote control? We completely disagree that the appellant was acting like an automaton. During the past months while we lived through this case, we have been able to make a fair assessment of the appellant’s personality,” the bench said.

“Unfortunately, he is wholly remorseless and any feeling of pity is unknown to him. He kills without the slightest twinge of conscience,” the bench said.

Kasab verdict an important milestone: Crime Branch

The Mumbai Crime Branch, which probed the 26/11 terror attack case, has termed as the “important milestone” the Supreme Court verdict upholding death sentence of Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab.

“The Supreme Court’s judgement is an important milestone in fight against terrorism,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy told a press conference.

On the role of Pakistan, the crime branch chief said, “Abu Jundal’s interrogation further reveals role of Pakistan in exporting terror to our country and his links with LeT”.

Jundal, suspected to be one of the key 26/11 handlers, was deported to India by Saudi Arabia and is currently in the police custody in connection with the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case.

“Crime Brnach is collecting very strong evidence against Jundal,” Roy said.

“Those martyrs who laid down their lives to nab Kasab should be given a tribute today,” he said.

“Without them (martyrs) nabbing Kasab and his conviction would not have been possible and those behind the terror strikes exposed,” Roy said.

SOURCE : PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

 

 

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The Terrorist Who Takes Indian Lives, Then Indian Money!

  The money spent on the cold-blooded murderer is making news yet again. The Maharashtra Government has spent over a massive 25 crore for guarding 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, ever since he was captured in 2008. But, now the Maharashtra Government has refused to bear the cost all by itself.

Maharashtra government has refused to foot the 19.28 crore bill sent by ITBP towards reimbursing expenses for guarding Kasab lodged in the Arthur Road jail here and wants Centre to waive the amount. Home Minister R R Patil today said the state government has requested Centre to waive the 19.28 crore bill sent to it by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), a central para military force.

“What Kasab and his associates did is an attack not only on Mumbai but an attack on India and it is unfair to ask the state government alone to bear the burden,” Patil told the Legislative Council. He was replying to a query raised by Shiv Sena member Ramdas Kadam during a discussion on calling attention motion.

The Home Minister said the state government has been making payments towards food and medical care of Kasab, besides the salaries of the state policemen guarding him. “Rs 5.25 crore was spent on the foolproof jail structure where the Pakistani terrorist is lodged. Apart from it, the government has spent Rs 34,975 on food, Rs 28,066 on medical facility, Rs 1.22 crore on the salary disbursed to the policemen guarding the jail where Kasab is kept,” Patil said.

The ITPB was deployed in the jail in the run-up to the 26/11 trial, held in a special sessions court set up in the jail premises. In 2010, the home department sought an extension for the deployment of the ITBP which comprised around 200 commandos, armed with sophisticated weaponry and communication equipment, for guarding 24×7 the lone surviving Pakistani gunman in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

(With inputs from PTI)

26/11 Attacks: 3 Years on, Survivors Await Kasab’s Execution

Three years after Ajmal Amir Kasab and his accomplices convulsed the country’s financial capital, the survivors of 26/11terror attacks are still waiting for the day when the convicted Pakistani gunman will be hanged.

“Why is Kasab not hanged yet? What are we waiting for, another 26/11 type horrific attack? Kasab and his accomplices went on a rampage and shook every one of us. Why the government is not doing enough. Whenever I read anything about Kasab it just annoys me,” 13-year-old Devika Rotwan, told PTI.

On the ill-fated night of November 26, 2008 Devika’s father Natwarlal was waiting at the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) here with his daughter and son Akash for a train, when two terrorists opened fire at the railway station.
“I am fine today but still I face difficulty while walking. My studies are going good. But in the last three years, we have shifted our house four times as neighbours often complain and fear for their lives due to our presence,” the eighth grade girl, said.
Jewish couple–Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivika’s cook Qazi Zakir Hussain alias Jackie, a Muslim, who was there at the Chabad House, when two terrorists pulverised the Jewish centre mourns the death of his employers even as he wonders why Kasab is still around.

“The fantastic thing about our country is that good people like my employers – Rabbi and Rivika get killed and the evil ones like Kasab are having a good time in jail at the expense of the common man,” Jackie said.

“I think the Kasab case would go the Afzal Guru way. The same process keeps on getting repeating for every accused and even in this case it’s the same. Even though a special fast track court was set up, the fate of Kasab is still hanging.. After Supreme Court, he will approach for mercy petition and this process will go on for years and years,” Bharat said, who owns a chemist shop near Leopold Cafe, one of the first sites to be attacked, lost his brother Subhash on that day. His hope for justice has now stymied.

The state government has fulfilled “majority of the recommendations” of the Ram Pradhan committee instituted after the 26/11 attacks to suggest measures on how to improve the security system in the state, Maharashtra’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home) U C Sarangi said.

“On the lines of the NSG, we have set up a 350 strong elite commando unit called Force one which is well equipped with the latest weapons and trained by Army and foreign experts. Every year, Rs 17 crore is being spent on this unit,” he said.

As part of security measure to protect shores of Mumbai, Maharashtra Government plans to fit transponders in the boats of fishermen along the coast.

However, some problem areas still remain. Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad ATS is grappling with a severe manpower crunch with 283 posts of the total 732 lying vacant, two-and-a-half years after the panel, set up to probe state police’s response to the Mumbai attacks recommended streamlining the force.

Of the sanctioned strength of 732 personnel for the ATS, which was formed in 2004 to counter terrorism and probe terror cases, 283 posts or 38.66 percent of the required manpower are lying vacant as on September 1, 2011, ATS sources said.

Ahead of the 26/11 anniversary, there is no specific threat or input from intelligence agencies but there is always a chance that terror outfits could resort to a “symbolic strike” to mark the third anniversary of the worst terror strike on India, home department sources said. Among the events being held tomorrow to mark the third anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks is unveiling of a memorial for slain policeman Tukaram Ombale.

A bust of Ombale will be unveiled tomorrow at Girgaum Chowpatty. Three years have passed since that fateful night when Assistant Sub Inspector Ombale lost his life while trying to nab terrorist Ajmal Kasab at Girgaum Chowpatty.

The four-feet high bronze statue was fabricated on the basis of approved photographs of Ombale and his uniform, the sculptors said.

On the eve of the terror attacks, memories of that fateful night come rushing back to the braveheart’s wife Tarabai and four daughters.

“My mother is still coming to terms with the loss, but around this time each year she is a little more anxious than usual,” Vaishali, Ombale’s daughter, said describing her mother’s state of mind.

Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan will be laying a wreath at the martyrs memorial situated at Police gymkhana in South Mumbai. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be present.

Apart from the remembrance of the victims of the attack and those who died fighting to save Mumbai from terrorists, no other function is planned, Sarangi said.

“The memorial will be thrown open to the public to come and pay their respects,” he said.
The state government run J J Hospital has organised blood donation camps in Mumbai where the city police officials will donate blood, he said.

A Marathi film based on the life of a policeman, witness to the 26/11 attacks, is being released on the eve of the third anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks. Titled “Hello Jai Hind,” the film has noted art director Nitin Desai debuting as an actor and music by Ilayaraja, who is composing for a Marathi film for the first time.”It is about life of the family of a policeman and how the city recovered from the attacks,” said Gajendra Ahire, director of the film. “It is also about how we continue to live in fear of terror attacks.
Kavita Karkare, wife of slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare, said she was shocked at the apathy of the government. “Our leaders had made tall claims that the security system has been strengthened and no such attack will take place again. But the blasts in July this year exposed hollowness of their claims,” she said.

“Even Pakistan has said that Kasab should be hanged, then what are we waiting for”, questioned Jackie.

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Maharashtra has spent Rs 16 crore on Kasab so far

Ajmal Amir Kasab, the Pakistani gunman who unleashed terror in the city along with his nine associates, is still bleeding state coffers three years after he killed more than 100 people on November 26, 2008.

The state home department has since spent Rs 16.17 crore on accommodating the terrorist at the Arthur Road jail, including constructing a special cell, deploying forces from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and on his safety, food and medical treatment.

The expenditure does not include legal fees paid to the special public prosecutor and his team. The state is taking a stock of Kasab’s expenses in the wake of the third anniversary of the 26/11 attacks.

“So far, there are no changes in the way we are going to treat him in the future. We continue to spend on Kasab since his security is a prime concern. To ensure adequate healthcare, we incurred a treatment cost of Rs 26,953 since 2008,” said an official from the state home department.

Ten terrorists had attacked various locations in the city on 26/11, killing more than 100 people and injuring several more. While Kasab was caught alive, the others were gunned down by the police. After the trial in a special court, sessions court judge M L Tahilyani sentenced Kasab to death. The order was upheld by the high court on February 21, 2011. Since then, the state has been ensuring that in the process of giving him a fair trial, Kasab gets food, accommodation and adequate medical facility.

So far, Rs 5.29 crore has been spent on setting up a special cell for Kasab, who was shifted into it after state authorities found existing safety arrangements within the prison inadequate for a high-profile criminal. The expenditure on the deployment of ITBP has been Rs 10.87 crore; another Rs 27,520 has been spent on food and Rs 26,953 on medicines. “The cost of food has been steadily rising but we are able to keep it roughly about Rs 25 per day,” said the official.

5.3 crore spent on Kasab’s special cell

Ten terrorists had attacked various locations in the city on 26/11, killing more than 100 people and injuring several more. While Kasab was caught alive, the others were gunned down by the police. After the trial in a special court, sessions court judge M L Tahilyani sentenced Kasab to death.

The order was upheld by the high court on February 21, 2011. Since then, the state has been ensuring that in the process of giving him a fair trial, Kasab gets food, accommodation and adequate medical facility.

So far, Rs 5.29 crore has been spent on setting up a special cell for Kasab. The expenditure on the deployment of ITBP has been Rs 10.87 crore; Rs 27,520 has been spent on food and Rs 26,953 on medicines. “The cost of food has been steadily rising but we are able to keep it roughly about Rs 25 per day,” said the official.

Upkeep Monitor

Total state spend on Kasab

* Rs 5.29 crore on constructing a special cell

* Rs 10.87 crore on deploying forces from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police

* Rs 27,520 on food

* Rs 26,953 on medicines

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Singh-Gilani Declare ‘New Chapter’ in Ties

India and Pakistan talked about writing “a new chapter” in their accident-prone ties, with Islamabad assuring New Delhi that the terrorists behind the Mumbai carnage, that virtually froze relations between the neighbours, will be brought to justice soon.

Meeting on the sidelines of the 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit here, the two leaders held delegation-level talks for around half an hour in a seaside beach cottage at the idyllic Shangri La resort hotel and followed it up with nearly 45 minutes of one-on-one talks.

With relations having languished since the cataclysmic 26/11 terror attacks nearly three years ago, the two sided agreed to push a host of initiatives, including the revival of the joint commission, a preferential trade agreement and liberal visa regime.

India conveyed to Pakistan the imperative need to punish perpetrators of 26/11 carnage and underlined that terror should not be allowed to spoil improving relations between them.

Pakistan promised to conclude the trial of the Mumbai terror accused in its custody and declared that Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving 26/11 terrorist, should be hanged.

In a sign of the new spirit of mutual accommodation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani agreed to open a new chapter in ties and hoped the next round of talks will be “more productive and constructive.”

Coming out after their meeting, the two smiled and made brief statements before the media in which they virtually echoed each other in their desire to start a new phase in relations.

Describing Gilani as “man of peace,” Manmohan Singh said that the dialogue process, which the two countries resumed early this year, have yielded positive results, but stressed that “more needs to be done.

“We have decided that we will resume this dialogue with the expectation that all issues which have bedeviled the relations between our two countries will be discussed with all the sincerity that our two countries can bring to bear on these talks,” said Manmohan Singh.

Saying that “the destinies of people of India and Pakistan are very closely linked,” the prime minister stressed that “we have wasted lot of time in the past in acrimonious debates.

“The time has come to write a new chapter in the history of our relationship.” Saying that Gilani fully endorsed this view, he said that “the next round of talks should be far more productive, far more result-oriented in bringing the two countries closer to each other than ever before.”

Gilani, too, struck an upbeat note. “We had a good meeting”.

He said the next round of the talks would be “more constructive, more positive, and will open a new chapter in the history of both the countries.”

“We have very openly discussed all issues including all core issues. We have discussed, the Prime Minister and we have been very open,” he said while alluding to discussions on water, terror, Sir creek, Siachen glacier and Kashmir.

Saying that the two sides are “moving in a positive direction,” Gilani also assured that “all possible steps were being taken in the context of the joint fight against terror.”

Briefing reporters after the talks, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said that the prime minister conveyed that the period of “accusations and counter-accusations was behind us,” and stressed on key initiatives that emerged from the talks that included the revival of the joint commission and the signing of a visa agreement.

Building on positive momentum generated by Pakistan granting India Most Favoured Nation status, Mathai said the two countries are now planning to move towards a preferential trade agreement.

he two sides also decided to fast-track implementation of cross-border trade and confidence-building measures that were finalized in July. Commerce secretaries will meet Nov 14 in New Delhi. This will be followed by talks between home secretaries in December that will focus on terror and security-related issues. There is a plan to arrange a meeting between water secretaries as well to sort out shared river water disputes.

Manmohan Singh told Gilani that “it is imperative to bring the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to justice”, said Mathai. The Pakistani side promised to bring the trial of the seven 26/11 terrorists who are in Pakistani custody to conclusion and pointed that the judicial commission, that will be visiting India soon, will positively impact the judicial process of bringing 26/11 perpetrators to justice.

In a surprisingly blunt assertion, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik declared that Ajmal Kasab is a non-state actor, a convicted terrorist and should be sent to the gallows.

“Kasab is a terrorist, a non-state actor who should go to gallows and his accomplices too,” said Malik.

By IANS

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