US has given evidence to Pak, it should act now: Pranab

New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) India Thursday said the US has
provided "strong evidence" to Pakistan about involvement of
Lashkar-e-Taiba in the Mumbai attacks and that Islamabad
should now hand over the culprits for which no Extradition
Treaty is required.

A day after US media reports said a key Lashkar
operative had "confessed" to involvement in the Mumbai
attacks, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said
Pakistan is yet to demonstrate "tangible" action against the
perpetrators though it is obliged to do so under international
laws.

"We have been told that there is some strong evidence
available with FBI and they have shared it with Pakistan. We
expect that Pakistan will act on them and hand over the
perpetrators of terror attack in Mumbai to us," he told NDTV.

The Minister said it was expected of Pakistan to take
action against the perpetrators of terror attacks in the wake
of evidence provided to them and various international
conventions to which Islamabad is a signatory.

Asked whether an Extradition Treaty was needed for
Islamabad to hand over the attackers, he said, "Extradition
Treaty is not required to take action on these matters" as
Pakistan is party to various international conventions and
arrangements starting from SAARC to various international
conventions against taking hostages, conventions against
bombings.

On whether the US pressure on Pakistan was working,
Mukherjee said "tangible" results about Pakistani cooperation
on the Mumbai terror attack is "yet to be achieved".

US media reports Wednesday said that top LeT commander
Zarar Shah has confessed the group's involvement and the US
provided Islamabad with the tape of a conversation his
associate Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind,
had with the Mumbai attackers.

In the wake of the latest developments, Mukherjee asked
Pakistan to act on the "advice" of the world community and as
per the international conventions besides its own commitments.

"So far the desired results are concerned, taste of
pudding is in the eating. What we are asking Pakistan to do,
requesting them (is) to fulfil their own commitments which
they have made to our Prime Minister twice" on January 6, 2004
and in September last year. "Up till now, we have not seen
tangible and credible action taken by Pakistan."

To a question about war-hysteria having been created,
the External Affairs Minister said "at least we are not
responsible. We have not created any war hysteria. In our
utterances, in our action, there is no question of creating
any war hysteria or war cry."

He, however, reiterated his statement that India will
"keep all options open".

"If we find that Pakistan is not responding to our
suggestions and to our requests and and not only our response,
our requests but also to act as per the advice of the
international community which has asked them to take action
against terrorists," Mukherjee said.

He said Pakistan is "obliged" to act as it is a party to
various international conventions starting from SAARC 1987
convention against terrorism to the additional protocol of
2004.

"But they have not done anything to convince that they
are serious about tackling the terrorist activities emanating
from the land of Pakistan," Mukherjee said.

Underlining that "the issue is not war" between India and
Pakistan or Indo-Pak relationship, he said "The issue is how
to tackle terrorism which is emanating from the soil of
Pakistan. The issue is how to prevent the terrorists (from)
using the land of Pakistan, territory of Pakistan, which they
committed not once but twice as I mentioned.

"Therefore, let them address the issue instead of
creating a war hysteria. We have not mobilised."

Referring to remarks by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah
Mehmood Qureshi that India should de-escalate tension,
Mukherjee said "We have not escalated the tension. So, where
is the question of our de-escalation." PTI