ISLAMABAD - The Indian deputy high commissioner Friday visited the Foreign Office at his own request to meet Director General SA & SAARC.
During the meeting, the Indian envoy enquired about the progress being made in the Mumbai attack trial.
The director general stated that the trial was taking its legal course and efforts were being made for its early conclusion. The director general took the opportunity to also enquire about the Samjhauta Express investigation. The DG stated that it was necessary that the outcome of these investigations be shared with Pakistan at the earliest.
INDIA SUMMONS PAK ENVOY OVER MUMBAI ATTACK TRIAL
AFP adds: India summoned a top Pakistani diplomat in Delhi on Friday, two days after announcing resumption of foreign-secretary-level talks, to voice unhappiness over repeated delays in the trial of seven men accused in the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks.
“We asked them to ensure a mechanism whereby Indian diplomats in their country get regular briefings about the Mumbai terror trial and related investigations,” an Indian foreign ministry official told AFP.
The trial, which began in 2012 and is being conducted by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court, was adjourned for the seventh time on Wednesday, according to the Press Trust of India.
“Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner in New Delhi was summoned to the foreign ministry,” said the official, who asked not to be identified. The Indian deputy high commissioner in Islamabad lodged a similar protest at the Pakistan foreign office, the Indian official also said.
The last hearing in the terror case as well as the one slated for late June could not be held because the judge was on leave, the Press Trust of India reported. Trial proceedings have also been delayed by absence of prosecution lawyers amid security worries.
The seven Pakistani suspects have been charged with planning and financing the attacks on India’s financial capital. The summoning of the Pakistani diplomat came days after the Indian foreign ministry said the foreign secretaries of both countries would meet in Islamabad on August 25.