Terror hits Pakistan, India

As news of the blasts on board the Samjhauta Express, perhaps the most enduring symbol of the Indo-Pak people-to-people relationship

INDO-PAK: Kasuri arrives today, Pak medical team on way with C-130

As news of the blasts on board the Samjhauta Express, perhaps the most enduring symbol of the Indo-Pak people-to-people relationship, broke this morning, for the first time there was no finger-pointing but a resolve by the leadership on both sides to strengthen the bilateral peace process. And, quietly, a cautious cooperation had begun.

For the first time, officials from the Pakistan High Commission were allowed to visit the site although India held back permission for more Pak Railways officials to probe the explosions and the fire which killed 67 people. They were allowed to visit Wagah.

While the local administration began work with daybreak, admitting the injured to a Panipat Hospital 8212; some were later moved to the Safdarjung Hospital here 8212; Pakistan is said to have decided to carry out an evacuation of its injured. A C-130 aircraft with a medical team will come here over the next couple of days to take back the bodies and the injured.

Setting the tone was the expression of resolve at the highest political levels. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to his Pakistan counterpart Shaukat Aziz and committed to 8220;doing everything possible to ensure that its perpetrators are punished8221;. Both sides condemned the attack and decided to not allow this to derail the peace process.

Earlier, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said: 8220;We will not allow elements that want to sabotage the ongoing peace process succeed in their nefarious designs8221;.

A small mission of visa officials was sent from Delhi to set up a camp in Lahore to facilitate relatives of the victims to travel to Panipat and Delhi. The government also handed over a list of Pakistan passport holders to the Pakistan High Commission and later gave the list of 10 Pakistanis admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.

The four-member Pakistan High Commission team that went to the spot concluded that the low-intensity explosive was, in all likelihood, placed in the train at Old Delhi Railway Station. The team also noted the accounts by some passengers that the train had apparently made an unscheduled halt near Diwana Station 8 km from Panipat where a couple of people got off.

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While this is now part of the investigation, the Pakistani officials were satisfied with the efforts made by the local administration.

With Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri coming here on Tuesday, sources said, the meetings will now be overshadowed by this incident as both sides hope to show cooperation on terrorism by taking 8220;joint action8221; in the coming days. Already, the newly constituted joint anti-terror mechanism is going to meet on March 6. Further initiatives in providing humanitarian help will be discussed at the meetings.

Kasuri will hold talks with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and will also meet the Prime Minister during his trip that was initially focused on a meeting of the joint commission to take forward people-to-people contacts.