A high-level delegation led by the Union home secretary left for Islamabad on Wednesday for the India-Pakistan HS-level talks to be held on May 24-25, 2012.
The last round of talks between the two sides was held in New Delhi in March 2011, and the joint statement then had identified cooperation in the area of counter-terrorism, progress in bringing the fugitives of the Mumbai terrorist attacks case to justice and a revised bilateral visa agreement as some of the priorities.
The Indian delegation consists of the director of Intelligence Bureau, director-general of the National Investigation Agency and other concerned officials.
The broad agenda of the talks
would focus on terrorism, fugitives from Indian law, narcotics and humanitarian issues such as of Indian fishermen and civilians in Pakistan jails.
The visit comes against the immediate backdrop of Pakistan President Asif Zardari's visit to India on April 8, during which Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had stressed the need for Pakistan to take firm action to curb terrorism, bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack to justice and prevent activities aimed against India from Pakistani soil.
A revised visa agreement is expected to be signed, which will introduce the concept of group tourist visa, visa on arrival and a separate category of business visas.