Pakistan Opposition leader Imran Khan at a conference in Mumbai on Tuesday on the tension between India and Pakistan. (AP)

Islamabad, Dec. 2: Pakistan today proposed to set up a high-powered joint commission with India to probe the terror attacks in Mumbai.

“Pakistan has proposed to India that a joint commission, suitably composed, be set up to work together on the Mumbai incident,” foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told envoys representing the European Union and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The offer came days after Islamabad withdrew its decision to send ISI chief Ahmad Shuja Pasha to India.

Qureshi said in Islamabad the commission could be co-chaired by the national security advisers of India and Pakistan and would meet as early as possible to exchange information on the attacks.

“We must make joint efforts to reduce tension and continue constructive engagement in a comprehensive manner,” he said.

The minister stressed that terrorists must not be allowed to undo the gains made in the composite dialogue process.

“We are convinced that continuation of the process is in the larger interest of the people of the two countries,” Qureshi said. He was referring to the dialogue begun in January 2004 after escalating tension between the neighbours brought them to the brink of war following the 2001 Parliament attack that New Delhi blamed on militants backed by Islamabad.

Qureshi said Pakistan and India must enhance their co-ordination in combating terrorism.

“Serious, sustained and pragmatic engagement that is multi-tiered and comprehensive is warranted,” he said, pledging full co-operation to India.

He said both sides must avoid blame games and hostile propaganda, which work to the advantage of the terrorists.

“Terrorism is a major challenge of the times and a common enemy that needs to be tackled through joint efforts,” Qureshi said later in a televised address.

Pakistan’s response and attitude on the issue would be balanced, measured and conciliatory as it desired good relations with India, he said.

Appeal to UN

Pakistan has asked the international community, especially the US, to help bring about a “rapprochement” between New Delhi and Islamabad, PTI reports.

In a letter to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and member nations, Pakistan’s ambassador to the world body said: “It is indeed regrettable that an attempt is being made internationally to involve Pakistan through its government and people to bear the brunt of the outrage against the Mumbai incident.”

This response, Abdullah Hussain Haroon’s letter said, was rooted in the history of old antagonism and not befitting the spirit of cordiality that the new democratic leadership of Pakistan has established with India.

US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, he said, should “bring about rapprochement and rapport between the aggrieved countries to avoid conflagration”.