NEW DELHI, Aug 30: The United States is keeping Indian fugitive Dawood Ibrahim in its sights, US Ambassador to India David Mulford was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

“Individuals like him... We would like to see them apprehended,” the Press Trust of India quoted Mr Mulford as telling reporters. He was asked to comment on the status of the Mumbai underworld figure, designated a terrorist by the United States and who India alleges is hiding in Pakistan. “He is very much in our sights,” Mr Mulford said without elaborating.

PTI said India had on Monday sought the deportation of Dawood Ibrahim among the 30 wanted people during the home secretary-level talks. Pakistan said that Mr Dawood was not in the country and lived somewhere else.

Asked about reports of alleged terror camps continuing to operate in Pakistan, Mr Mulford said “the US wants these camps to be disbanded”. He said US President George W Bush had taken up the issue with President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Mulford said the US regarded Pakistan as a “valuable ally” in the war on terror and that Islamabad was itself taking action on this problem in that country and focussing on it, according to PTI.