India and Pakistan had decided to keep aside controversial issues like terror camps in PoK, infiltration or Balochistan at the Home Secretary-level talks and discuss liberal visa regime and release of prisoners to create a positive atmosphere for last month's meeting of Prime Ministers at north Indian city of Mohali.
This was the informal agreement between New Delhi and Islamabad before the beginning of the Home Secretary-level talks between the two
countries held here on March 28 and 29.
"There was an informal agreement between the two sides at the inset that since it was the first Indo-Pak bilateral meeting after the
26/11 terror attack, we should concentrate on less controversial issues to create a positive atmosphere before the two Prime ministers'
meeting," an official privy to the meeting said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Premier Yusuf Raza Gilani met a day after the Home Secretary level talks at Mohali on the
sidelines of the International Cricket Council World Cup cricket semi final between the two countries.
Though there were discussions on controversial issues like the continuation of terror infrastructure in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, infiltration from across the border or alleged Indian involvement in Balochistan, these were kept aside for in-depth deliberations for
later meetings or for discussions at different forums.
"So some issues would be discussed at the next Home Secretary-level talks, possibly in September, or at the level of Foreign Secretaries or Foreign Ministers," the official said.
However, there was a realisation on the part of the Pakistani delegation to show flexibility and agree for a reference being made to
the Mumbai terror attack case and its progress in Pakistan in the joint statement.
"When the Indian side agreed to the Pakistan's proposal to send a commission to India in connection with 26/11 case, the Pakistani
delegation too reciprocated by agreeing to accept an Indian commission to that country, which sent a positive signal for the two Prime Ministers' meeting," the official said.
The Pakistan side conveyed that they would inform the court, where the 26/11 trial is going on, the Indian decision to receive the Pakistani commission and request it to constitute the panel soon for its travel to India.
"The Indian decision also ensured that LeT operative Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and his seven other accomplices would continue to remain
in jail," he said.
Pakistan Home Secretary Chaudhary Qamar Zaman and Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai met for two days on March 28 and 29.