Talks if Pak visit happens: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI (Agencies) Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram said Monday that bilateral talks with Pakistani leaders could be on the anvil if he goes to Islamabad for the SAARC Interior Ministers Conference. I presume if I go to Pakistan, I presume we will hold bilateral talks if there is an opportunity. But remember SAARC is a multilateral forum, Chidambaram told reporters when asked about his proposed visit. He was presenting his Ministrys monthly report card before the media. Islamabad is to host the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Interior Ministers Conference on February 20, and informed sources say that Chidambaram could make the trip. There has been no ministerial visit from India to Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror strikes. The last visit was by Pranab Mukherjee in May 2008 who was then the external affairs minister. Last week, after Pakistani investigators named Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as the mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks, Chidambaram said Pakistan was still dragging its feet. The SAARC conference will be attended by ministers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is expected to discuss regional cooperation for dealing with terrorism, narcotics and organised crime. The Indian Home Minister said he could neither confirm nor deny an Indian hand in the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai. Chidambaram said that India is committed to providing security to players of all the countries playing in India including those from Pakistan. Let players from Australia, let players from Pakistan come to India, let them play in Mumbai or any other part of the country. I guarantee their security. He also strongly condemned the views expressed by the Shiv Sena against non-Marathi speaking people working in Mumbai. We reject the thesis of the Shiv Sena, we reject the thesis of the MNS. Mumbai belongs to all Indians. Indians are free to move anywhere in the country and work, Chidambaram said. Terming as routine the latest advisory by the US authorities asking their citizens to be alert while visiting India in the wake of possible terror strikes, he said, These are routine advisories issued by the US from time to time. They have issued in the past also. In 2009, they have issued in two-three occasions. I dont think it was based on any new information nor do I think that it was intended to send any alarm signal. I think it was a routine advisory and it should seen as such, the home minister said.

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