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December 08, 2008
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Monday
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Zilhaj 9, 1429
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Pakistan’s response to India’s demarche likely in a couple of days
By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Pakistan’s response to India’s second demarche that had listed the actions it wants Pakistan to take, is expected in a few days.
India is expecting the response on Monday. Sources say that the Pakistani authorities had indicated during a meeting between Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal on Saturday that Pakistan would make a reply to the second demarche on Monday.
India handed over two demarches to Pakistan on Dec 1. The first one was Issued to Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Shahid Malik, by the Indian External Affairs Ministry, while the second one was delivered at the Foreign Office by Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal.
In the first demarche, India had accused elements from Pakistan of carrying out the terrorist attack in Mumbai 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 attack.
Pakistan responded to the first demarche the same evening, proposing to India to establish a joint investigation commission headed by national security advisers of the two countries for investigating the Mumbai incident.
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. The demarche also seeks action against the Jamaatud Dawa, which is on the government’s watch-list.
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.
Pakistan is basing its position on the absence of 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.
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