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New Delhi, Apr.9 (ANI): India and Pakistan are taking a step-by-step approach in dealing with all underlying issues, including cross-border terrorism, as the aim on both sides is to restore confidence and trust before making commitments, said Union Home Secretary Gopal K.Pillai.

In an interview given to the Business Line, Pillai described the gains between New Delhi and Islamabad as “positive”.

“While some of the underlying issues on cross-border terrorism still remain unresolved, we have to go step-by-step and build up confidence and trust before both sides are willing to commit on the serious issues,” Pillai said.

He said that for starters, a judicial committee for prisoners would be visiting Pakistan between April 19 and 23 to meet with magisterial and investigating officers, and doctors who send people to prison after making a case against them.

Pillai confirmed that Pakistan still has 19 to 20 Indian prisoners, who needed to be released and brought back home after all legal procedures were completed.

At the end of April, the Commerce and Defence Secretaries of the two countries would also be meeting.

He also said that the Director-General of the Narcotic Control Board would be visiting Pakistan in May for talks, and added that a hotline is also being established between the Home Secretaries of the two countries.

Pillai said that as far terrorist plots were concerned, the Indian Government has taken concrete steps to beef up the nation’s intelligence network to counter and thwart such plots.

The Home Ministry, he said, has a Multi-Agency Center (MAC) that assesses intelligence-linked information everyday. Plans were also afoot to set up a Crime and Criminal Tracking Network (CCTN), he added.

He said good intelligence is the key to countering all threats to national security, and in the long term, a National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), would be set up to consolidate such information.

On the issue of law and order, he said that while it was a state subject, the Union Home Ministry has drafted a Delhi Police Act that dwells on police reforms and would be tabled in the monsoon session of Parliament.

He was candid in admitting that there was a shortage of police personnel and in this regard, the 13th Finance Commission has provided Rs.2000 crores for upgrading police training infrastructure. (ANI)