India calls for rigorous investigation, follow-up of leads in 26/11 Mumbai attacks case

ISLAMABAD: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday reiterated that India is looking for an "outcome" from the Pakistan Government against perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

During a joint press conference along with Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Chidambaram said: "India wants rigorous investigation and follow-up of the leads that are available. All masterminds and handlers behind 26/11 must be brought to justice. We are not questioning the intentions, but the outcome is important as it is the outcomes that will decide the intent."

"We have both agreed that the situation needs to be addressed in the manner it was discussed. We must ensure that terrorists have no free run either in Pakistan or India, and both countries must work together to wipe out the menace of terrorism," he added.

Chidambaram further said that at the moment he "should not disclose everything" discussed during the meeting.

"The next meeting schedule is that of the Foreign Ministers, so at the end of that meeting, we should discuss," he added.

Malik on his part said that Pakistan is doing its best to tackle the issue of terrorism, and assured that his government will assist India in tackling militancy.

"Pakistan has demonstrated clear resolve to fight against terrorists and bring them to justice. We have discussed the issues and now a road map is with us to move forward," Malik.

"We have a resolve to fight and work against terrorism. Agencies from both India and Pakistan are now working together. We are resolved to fight against terrorism, I can assure that no such incident will happen in future," he added.

Chidambaram arrived in Islamabad on Friday to attend the two-day meet of the Home Ministers of eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The meeting between Chidambaram and Malik is a sign of the revival of bilateral talks between India and Pakistan, which had been suspended in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

This is the first ministerial visit from India to Pakistan since the Mumbai 26/11 attack.