NEW DELHI: After the Pakistani anti-terrorism court trying the conspirators of November 2008 Mumbai attacks was adjourned for a week over the trial judge’s summer recess, India on Friday summoned Islamabad’s Deputy High Commissioner to lodge a strong protest in this regard. Interestingly, a similar reason was given when the proceedings did not take place on the last date.
India did a two-pincer attack-- summoning Deputy High Commissioner Mansoor Khan to the Ministry of External Affairs and India’s Deputy Envoy also visiting Pakistan Foreign Office in Islamabad to lodge a similar protest. Incidentally, the move came after the two Foreign Secretaries had on Wednesday agreed to hold their next meeting on August 25.
Meanwhile, a release from Pakistan Foreign Office said its Director General (South Asia and Saarc) had told Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Bagley “the trial was taking its legal course and efforts were being made for its early conclusion”.
And Pakistan, as usual, also raised the bogey of the probe into Samjhauta Express blasts to counter India. “She stated that it was necessary that the outcome of these investigations be shared with Pakistan at the earliest,” said a Pakistan Foreign Office release.
It was on Wednesday that the anti-terrorism court trying the seven accused had adjourned the trial for the seventh straight time.