NEW DELHI, July 21: India does not see President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s July 20 remarks on the Mumbai blasts as helpful, an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday.

In reply to questions at a briefing, the spokesman urged Pakistan to show ‘sincerity’ in dealing with terrorism by arresting and deporting some of the people New Delhi believes are at the heart of India’s woes from across the border.

In a separate development, police arrested three suspects in Bihar.

The suspects, all Muslims, are alleged to be involved with terrorist groups in Bangladesh and Nepal. One report said they were also ‘directly or indirectly’ involved with groups in Pakistan.

This aspect of Indian claims was, in fact, not new and was rebutted by President Musharraf on Thursday. In his address he had also come across as a leader who shared India’s grief, particularly so when he had touching words to say to the people of Mumbai and to the families of the blast victims.

The Indian response was terse but not imminently obtrusive for a future dialogue. “We have seen the remarks made by President Musharraf in his address on television yesterday. We are disappointed at Pakistan’s continuing denial of the presence of and failure to take action against jihadi groups threatening to operate against India from Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

“President Musharraf’s offer to help in investigations into the Mumbai blasts if evidence is provided to him gives us no cause for satisfaction in view of Pakistan’s refusal to cooperate in the past, most recently at the home secretary-level talks in May this year, when substantial evidence was provided to Pakistan of the presence on its territory of terrorist groups and fugitives. Nevertheless, in view of President Musharraf’s assurance, we will continue to provide to Pakistani authorities all available evidence and await practical action on their part,” the spokesman said in reply to a question.

In case the talks have to resume sooner than is currently conceivable, there was ample provision for that contingency too.

“Let me add that India remains committed to the dialogue process with Pakistan but this can be sustained and can yield results only if Pakistan acts against terrorist groups operating from territory under its control, in accordance with its solemn commitments enshrined in the joint press statement of January 6, 2004,” the spokesman said.

He said if Pakistan really wanted to convince the people of India then it could take some action immediately.

“For example, the self-styled chief of Hizbul Mujahideen, Syed Salahuddin, who is freely roaming about in Pakistan and PoK and has appeared on the same stage as many ministers of the federal government, should be arrested and handed over to India.

“Instead of their saying that Jamaatud Dawa is being kept under close watch, the organisation should be banned and its leader should be arrested. Besides that of course, Dawood Ibrahim, who has been listed in the UN Security Council’s 1267 committee as an individual associated with Al Qaeda, should be apprehended and deported to India.”

Asked if these were preconditions to future talks, the spokesman’s response was negative. “I did not say that,” he replied, adding: “I was asked a question what it would take to convince us. I have listed here some examples of practical actions which will add credibility to Pakistan’s claim that they are willing to fight terror together with India.”

Answering a question whether a stronger action was looming against Pakistan, he said: “Yes, we have had the Mumbai blasts. The government of India is fully looking into the entire situation. We are also looking at all the implications in political and security terms and we are taking considered action step-by-step.”

The three arrested in Bihar were identified as Maqbool Ahmed Choudhry, Mohammed Kalaam Ansari and Mohammed Ahmed Shaikh and they were thought to be part of a larger conspiracy behind the attacks.

The three men have been charged with murder, attempt to murder and under sections of the Railways and Explosives Acts. They have been placed under police custody for 10 days.