India and Pakistan on Monday began here their two-day home secretary-level talks on terrorism and drug-trafficking.

The talks are part of the on-going composite dialogue process that the two nuclear rivals set in motion in 2003 over the disputed Kashmir issue.

Before commencement of the parleys, New Delhi stressed that the dialogue would revolve around terrorism and drug trafficking. The talks will be held in the light of a joint declaration between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Gen.

Pervez Musharraf, Home Secretary Vinod Kumar Duggal told reporters before entering into parleys.

The joint statement, he said, mentions the January 2004 declaration under which Pakistan's soil will not be used for terrorism against India, the peace process would be strengthened by implementation of confidence building measures and terrorism would not be allowed to come in its way.

India has often accused Pakistan of fomenting trouble in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, which Pakistan vehemently denies. India is also likely to raise the issue of international criminal Dawood Ibrahim, who India alleges is hiding in Pakistan. However, Pakistan refutes any such claim.

To a question about deportation of Dawoo, Duggal said "I agree that these criminals should face the law. Dawood Ibrahim, who has been declared by the US State Department as specially designated global terrorist and also as global terrorist by the United Nations, is wanted in India in connection with the 1993-serial blasts in financial capital Mumbai and other serious crimes."

The last home secretary level talks were held in August 2004 in Islamabad. Before heading for the talks, Pakistani Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah told reporters that he was here to carry forward the composite dialogue during which issues pertaining to terrorism and drug trafficking would figure.

"We will also take up the issue of prisoners of each others' country as people on both sides want them to be safe and return as soon as possible," Shah said.

Source: Xinhua