By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan’s response to India’s second demarche that had listed the actions it wants Islamabad to take following the Mumbai terror attacks “is expected in a few days”, a media report Monday said.
India had Dec 1 handed over two demarches to Pakistan. The first was issued to Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi Shahid Malik by the Indian External Affairs Ministry and the second one was delivered to the foreign office here by Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal.
In the first demarche, India had accused elements from Pakistan of carrying out the Nov 26 Mumbai attacks and said it expected Islamabad to match its sentiments with deeds by taking stern action against the groups that could have been involved in the strikes.
Pakistan responded to the first demarche the same evening, proposing to establish a joint investigation commission headed by national security advisers of the two countries for investigating the Mumbai incident. India has rejected this.
“However, response to the second demarche, which diplomats say is more specific in that it had sought the extradition of three wanted people – Maulana Masood Azhar, Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim – was pending because Pakistan wanted to closely study the Indian demands before replying to them,” Dawn said.
“The demarche also seeks action against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (as the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group has been named after it was proscribed), which is on the government’s watch-list,” the newspaper added.
Sources here suggest that Pakistan will ask India to provide “significant proof” of the involvement of the three people in the Mumbai attacks before seeking their extradition.
“Moreover, India will be told that Pakistan will try these individuals if the evidence was provided, thus making it clear that extradition is out of question,” Dawn said.
“Pakistan is basing its position on the absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries. Additionally, India hasn’t shared any proof with Pakistan. The only exchange of information on the issue, the sources said, was taking place between the US and India,” the newspaper added.