The proposed talks will focus essentially on India's core concerns regarding terrorism. It is Government's consistently expressed position that it is necessary to have an environment free of terror or threat of terror if relations between the two countries are to move forward concretely and meaningfully. Government expects Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack to justice, unravel the full conspiracy behind the attack, fulfil its commitment to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and to deny sanctuary to all terrorist groups which operate from its soil. Enabling an effective channel of communication between India and Pakistan can assist in the discussion of such concerns and to highlight the seriousness we attach to the need for action by Pakistan against terrorism.

Pakistan acknowledged and admitted on February 12, 2009 that the terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008 was planned and launched from Pakistan. In its dossier of July 11, 2009, Pakistan also acknowledged that substantial incriminating evidence had been unearthed which directly connects five accused LeT operatives under Pakistani custody to the attacks in Mumbai. Two more suspects were arrested later. On November 25, 2009, the Government of Pakistan reportedly filed a charge sheet in an Anti Terrorism Court in Pakistan against the seven suspects and 20 proclaimed offenders for their role in the terrorist attack on Mumbai. The trial in Pakistan is on going.

This information was given by Shri S.M.Krishna, Union Minister of External Affairs in reply to a question by Shri Manish Tewari in Lok Sabha Today.