Tuesday, March 21 2006 13:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The two-day technical level talks between India and Pakistan on matters pertaining to crime, human-trafficking, drug abuse, formation of SAARCPOL andimmigration matters began here toda(Mar 21,2006) after a gap of 17 years.

CBI Director Vijay Shanker is leading the Indian side while the Pakistan delegation is headed by Director General ofFederal Investigating Agency (FIA) Tariq Pervez.

The meet will focus on 'institutional cooperation' in future in tackling human-trafficking, counterfeiting of currency, besides appointment of nodal officers in both the countries for quick and timely exchange of information on criminal matters.

Besides Shanker, the Indian side includes an additional director, Joint Director (Policy) and Deputy Director (Coordination) of the CBI, representatives of Home and External Affairs Ministries, officials from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Narcotics Control Bureau.

The Pakistani delegation includes an Additional Director General, an Inspector General of FIA and an official from Pakistan's Foreign office.

During the meeting, India will take up the cases in which the Interpol references were pending with Pakistan so that the pace of investigation and eventual trial was accelerated.

India has been pressing for handing over underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, declared global terrorist, besides five hijackers of the Indian airlines plane in 1999.

The meeting will also focus on formation of a SAARCPOL (Police cooperation among the SAARC countries) to tackle trans-border crimes on the pattern of Europe.