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Within 24 hours of Home Minister P Chidambaram's visit to Islamabad, the Pakistani government appears to have finally conceded to India's demand to act against the 26/11 masterminds, including Jamat-ud-dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
Commenting on his discussions with Chidambaram in Islamabad, Rehman told CNN-IBN channel, "It was excellent and a step forward for better relationships. I have felt over the years the people from both sides they want both the countries to be friendly. I know there are few issues that do persist between the two countries.It's up to the leadership how and what kind of strategy we use to get these irritants out of the way."
On the issue of terrorism in India and the Mumbai terror, the Pakistan Interior Minister said, "There is no doubt the Mumbai act of terrorism was heinous. I think our leadership behaved very maturely the way the terrorists wanted to create a scene, and we do have intelligence that the terrorists have been doing it- making tension between Pakistan and India to bring them to war- you can give credit to the leadership that did not happen."
On Hindu Terrorism in India, Rehman said, "There is no doubt that there is Hindu extremism that has come up in India and your investigators have found that they are involved in acts of terror. We have the same act of terrorism going on in Pakistan - they can bring not only disturbance but also hostility between the two countries." He further said.."When this terrorism started from FATA and SWAT we had this same feeling that they cannot come to that extent- now they have become a monster."
On his tweet on Chidambaram, calling him 'intelligent and capable', Pak Minister said, "I met him for the first timehe's a very very positive person, full of wisdom, intelligent and having been finance minister too he has got rich experience. He can analyse, he can grasp things quickly."
He further praised Chidambaram, "I am grateful to Chidambaram the way he supported our point of view at the SAARC conference .for the first time the world saw Pakistan and India on the same page we conveyed a strong message that look we are together .India and Pakistan have decided to work together to fight terrorism we have suffered in the Samjhauta express, we have suffered in the Mumbai attacks..we want to ensure that we share our intelligence in such a way that an attack never happens again."
Transcript of the interview with CNN-IBN
How did the meeting go?
Rehman Malik: It was excellent and a step forward for better relationships. I have felt over the years the people from both sides they want both the countries to be friendly. I know there are few issues that do persist between the two countries. It's up to the leadership how and what kind of strategy we use to get these irritants out of the way
For India the main issue remains terror. You have gone in the past few months from accusing each other to you and Chidambaram saying you will jointly fight the war on terror. What brought about that change?
Lets talk pragmatically there is no doubt the Mumbai act of terrorism was heinous. Everybody right to the top of our leadership felt that way about it. You have seen our conduct and our leadership played a role. I think our leadership behaved very maturely -- the way the terrorists wanted to create a scene, and we do have intelligence that the terrorists have been doing it- making tension between Pakistan and India to bring them to war. You can give credit to the leadership that did not happen. Obviously we need to know and we want to investigate in order to punish them, but also to make sure that these events don't happen again . There is no doubt that there is Hindu extremism that has come up in India and your investigators have found that they are involved in acts of terror. We have the same act of terrorism going on in Pakistan - they can bring not only disturbance but also hostility between the two countries that's why when Chidambaram and I sat we addressed most of the issues that relate to security and I have no doubt in my mind that the way we have sat -- the way we have worked on the strategy we will sure give a heavy hand on that
I would like to come to that strategy, but when you speak of Hindu terrorism is it really correct to try and equate the two given the kind of terror that India has faced with groups based in Pakistan
No, why I am saying this is because when this terrorism started from FATA and SWAT we had this same feeling that they cannot come to that extent- now they have become a monster. It reminds me of what Benazir Bhutto said. She said terrorism is growing in our backyard, and let us work out something before it becomes a monster and eats us up. I am not equating the two I am just giving reference that these small groups have turned out to be monsters and that's why I advise that steps must be taken on that side, but since we are bordering countries and terrorists keep hopping over on both sides we need to have some kind of structure in place so that we can share information if somebody is using our side against India or anybody using India against Pakistan we must work out system s we can take real action at real time
You say that, but one of the concerns India has had is that while Pakistan takes action against those groups, the groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban those based in Swat in Waziristan, we see little action against what's known as the Punjabi Taliban including groups like the LeT that threaten India.
We have banned 22 groups, LeT among them. Not only have we banned them, we have also deradicalized them and i shared those details with Mr Chidambaram.
You believe that .Chidambaram also gave you specific requests- dossiers on Hafiz Saeed and the request for voice samples of the 26-11 suspects. What sort of assurances have you been able to give him?
Not just assurances because that sounds like you have to give information to someone. We decided to work together. The new dossiers that have been handed over 3-4 days ago that I have already passed on to the investigators. And I have assured Chidambaram we are going to look into it thoroughly with positivity as far as the voice samples are concerned we have no problem at all.
Similiarly about Hafiz Saeed, we are on record: we have taken action against him, but our court has given relief---so we can't comment on it. Let us learn to respect each other's court. When the judgment came from India on Kasab, we welcomed it. We have to have a certain threshold for tolerating each other keeping the legal side, political side together. But what we have resolved is to work together. And when there is a communication- that's why I say lets exchange hearts instead of dossiers. Because when we exchange hearts we are in a position to work together with full harmony confidence and less trust deficit. What Chidamabram spoke was correct..we were comfortable he gave us his requirement, I also gave him my requirement. don't want to make it public at this stagebut I think people will know with the passage of time- the level of cooperation we have agreed to. Since this incident has happened on your soil, and these are non-state actors, they are terrorists and we have no love lost for them we will take action---and the two nations will see good progress.
The big takeaway from your meeting is perhaps that you have asked the CBI and FIA to be in touch on the investigations- also the meeting of the intelligence chiefs that happened in Islamabad. Tell us about how they can work together going forward.
I want to have a result-oriented approach instead of going into paperwork, I volunteered that let the FIA and CBI share the investigation, directly, whenever an officer is required to be in India let him go, whenever he is required to come to Pakistan let him come.What is the purpose---real time intelligence, real time investigation, information must be shared properly .it's a positive thing and immediately I arranged the meeting of your director IB with our dg-ib so they can discuss and have a good communications means and don't have to go through the media and indirectly- that's the right way I feel.
You tweeted about your direct contact with Chidambaram, calling him intelligent and capable.
I met him for the first time -- he's a very very positive person, full of wisdom, intelligent and having been finance minister too he has got rich experience. He can analyse, he can grasp things quickly. Initially we thought we would meet for 10 minutes one to one. Eventually it went on for one and half hours. If you have something to share, and develop confidence, only then you go for a longer time .other meetings were pending .I am grateful to Chidambaram the way he supported our point of view at the SAARC conference. For the first time the world saw Pakistan and India on the same page we conveyed a storng message that look we are together .India and Pakistan have decided to work together to fight terrorism we have suffered in the Samjhauta express, we have suffered in the Mumbai attacks..we want to ensure that we share our intelligence in such a way that an attack never happens again.