To India’s list of 20 most wanted, Pak replies with list of 53

Even as officials here play down the response, they were clearly somewhat taken aback by it. This is the first time that Islamabad has also accused India of harbouring people who, it said, were responsible for a number of terrorist incidents within Pakistan. The Pakistani list is not believed to have the names of any Indian political leaders.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser J N Dixit has sounded an upbeat note on the eve of the India-Pakistan talks, describing Kashmir as an important bilateral issue but pointing out that ‘‘its resolution should not hold 1.3 billion people (of the sub-continent) hostage,’’ PTI said.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ‘‘Regional Conference on SAARC: post-Islamabad Challenges’’, Dixit pointed out that despite existing prejudices, India had a greater sense of responsibility, if only because it was a larger country.

‘‘By just saying you have larger responsibility does not help. You have to shoulder the responsibility,’’ he said, adding that the reciprocity ‘‘may not be equal and matching, but there must be an acknowledgement about it.’’

The time had now come to move forward ‘‘with conviction and a sense of clarity…We only need the conviction that it is worthwhile. We need the capacity to think out of the box of historical prejudices. We have to think of issues which really matter,’’ he said. He emphasised that cooperation in the field of energy and surface transport would be immensely beneficial and viable economically for the region.

A group of cross-party legislators from Pakistan visiting India, meanwhile, told journalists in the capital that the dialogue process should continue notwithstanding ‘‘hiccups’’ and that the China-India model could be used as a model for India and Pakistan.

Interestingly, Pakistan Muslim League MP M P Bhandara felt the issue of documents for starting the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service should be quickly sorted. The Pakistan government is willing to accept any document other than passports, he said.