Show us proof on Sonia plot: Pak mission

While India and Pakistan make positive noises on resolving the Kashmir issue, the two sides have spent the past two days squabbling about matters that are relevant on the ground such as release of fishermen and reports of Pakistan-based groups posing a threat to the security of Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

While India and Pakistan make positive noises on resolving the Kashmir issue, the two sides have spent the past two days squabbling about matters that are relevant on the ground such as release of fishermen and reports of Pakistan-based groups posing a threat to the security of Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The Pakistan High Commission today expressed its strong resentment at the 8220;name of Pakistan being dragged into the reported sinister plot8221;. The report being referred was the security threat to Sonia from militant outfits, including those from Pakistan, that was based on the period review of VIP security carried out by the Union Home Ministry. The ministry has since said this was a routine exercise.

In a statement, the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan Afrasiab said 8220;in case any concrete evidence is available in this particular case, it must be shared with us.8221; He said Pakistan had repeatedly emphasised that it should be provided with concrete evidence about incidents of terror in India where there were 8220;apprehensions of Pakistan8217;s so-called involvement8221;.

The statement came a day after India lodged a protest with Pakistan for not releasing all the 412 fishermen whose Indian nationality had been confirmed.

Yesterday, India had released 57 Pakistani prisoners, including 3 children and 30 fishermen. Pakistan today released 70 Indians, including 50 fishermen. The release of prisoners and fishermen who had completed their prison term and whose nationalities had been confirmed had been agreed at the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries on 14-15 November.

Pakistan8217;s statement today said reports on the possibility of terror attacks in the country with 8220;some groundless and bottomless relevance to Pakistan8221; had been coming up here in the run-up to January 26 every year, over more than a decade. 8220;We strongly regret this,8221; Afrasiab said.

Sir Creek joint survey from Jan 15

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan will conduct the second joint survey of the disputed Sir Creek and adjoining areas from January 15 next year. Dates and coordinates of the survey were decided over the last two days at a technical-level talks between delegations from both sides in Rawalpindi.