Despite repeated demands from India to handover those responsible for the November 26 terror strikes in Mumbai, a defiant Pakistan on Sunday refused to turn in the culprits saying the two countries did not share a crucial treaty required to effectuate such an extradition.
The statement comes after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought the custody of those responsible for the macabre attack.
“The leadership of Pakistan should recognise the demand from all civilised nations that the perpetrators must be brought to book. We hope that these criminals will be handed over to us to face trial in our country,” the Prime Minister had said.
Responding to the demands Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan could not be expected to concede the demand unless “something officially from India” reaches Islamabad.
Qureshi insisted that Pakistani laws do not allow extradition of its people to India. “We have a treaty with the US, we do not have an extradition treaty with India. Please do not compare, every situation is not identical,” Qureshi said.
The statement comes on the eve of the visit of the US assistant secretary of state Richard Boucher to Pakistan. Boucher is travelling to the region to urge India and Pakistan to push forward the probe into the Mumbai attacks and for action against the perpetrators of the terrorist strike.
Qureshi claimed that tensions sparked by the Mumbai attacks had been defused due to the intervention of friends and important nations in the region and beyond. “Good relations with India will remain our policy. The Mumbai attacks caused a setback for bilateral relations.”
“There is a pause in the composite dialogue but we will endeavour to end this pause and move towards normal relations. We must emerge from the stress that has developed in our relations,” he further remarked.
Since the terror attack on Mumbai, India has said that relations with the neighbour would normalize only after Pakistan acted on its demand to rein in terrorists. It has already put on hold all important engagements with Islamabad.
The statement comes after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought the custody of those responsible for the macabre attack.
“The leadership of Pakistan should recognise the demand from all civilised nations that the perpetrators must be brought to book. We hope that these criminals will be handed over to us to face trial in our country,” the Prime Minister had said.
Responding to the demands Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan could not be expected to concede the demand unless “something officially from India” reaches Islamabad.
Qureshi insisted that Pakistani laws do not allow extradition of its people to India. “We have a treaty with the US, we do not have an extradition treaty with India. Please do not compare, every situation is not identical,” Qureshi said.
The statement comes on the eve of the visit of the US assistant secretary of state Richard Boucher to Pakistan. Boucher is travelling to the region to urge India and Pakistan to push forward the probe into the Mumbai attacks and for action against the perpetrators of the terrorist strike.
Qureshi claimed that tensions sparked by the Mumbai attacks had been defused due to the intervention of friends and important nations in the region and beyond. “Good relations with India will remain our policy. The Mumbai attacks caused a setback for bilateral relations.”
“There is a pause in the composite dialogue but we will endeavour to end this pause and move towards normal relations. We must emerge from the stress that has developed in our relations,” he further remarked.
Since the terror attack on Mumbai, India has said that relations with the neighbour would normalize only after Pakistan acted on its demand to rein in terrorists. It has already put on hold all important engagements with Islamabad.
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