Monday, August 29 2005 15:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The two-day Home Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan began here today (Aug 29, 2005) with New Delhi stressing that the dialogue would revolve around terrorism and drug trafficking.

"Essentially there are two issues which will come up for discussion which is terrorism -- counter terrorism, terrorism control -- and drug trafficking. "The talks will be held in the light of a joint declaration between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf," Union Home Secretary V K Duggal told reporters before entering into parleys.

The joint statement, he said, mentions the January 2004 declaration under which Pakistan's soil will not be used for terrorism against India, the peace process would be strengthened by implementation of confidence building measures and terrorism would not be allowed to come in its way.

These two "complete issues" and related topics will figure in the talks with Pakistani side, said Duggal. Answering to a question about deportation of wanted criminals including Dawood Ibrahim, Duggal said "I agree that these criminals should face the law.

"When we say terrorist camps should not be there, they should not be; when we say fake Indian currency should not be pumped in, it should not be and similarly when we say that fugitives, who are international criminals and have been indulging in anti-national and terrorist activities should face the process of law, they should," he said.

"So we would be once again appealing to them through my Pakistani counterpart and say that they should face the law," Duggal said. He was responding to media queries on whether India would demand handing over of terrorists and criminals including Dawood Ibrahim from Pakistan.

Dawood Ibrahim, who has been declared by the US State Department as Specially Designated Global Terrorist and also as Global terrorist by the United Nations, is wanted here in connection with the 1993-serial blasts in Mumbai and other serious crimes.

Duggal would be holding talks with his counterpart Syed Kamal Shah, who is heading an 11-member delegation. The last Home Secretary level talks were held in August last year in Islamabad.

Before heading for the talks, Shah told reporters that he was here to carry forward the composite dialogue during which issues pertaining to terrorism and drug trafficking would figure. "We will also take up the issue of prisoners of each others' country as people on both sides want them to be safe and return as soon as possible," he said winding up his brief statement to a battery of reporters that had gathered at a five-star hotel, venue of the meeting.