Pak should hand over Mumbai attack criminals to India: PM

Shillong, Jan 3 (PTI) Notwithstanding Islamabad's
rejection of extraditing anyone to India, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh Saturday asked Pakistan to hand over
"criminals" responsible for Mumbai strikes to face trial here.

He also hoped that the new government in Bangladesh
would not allow its territory to be used for terrorists acts
against India especially in the North East.

Singh hoped that "some sense" would prevail on the
leadership of Pakistan and it recognises that those behind the
"horrible acts" in Mumbai have to be brought to justice.

"It (Pakistan) has to take action on the demand from
all civilised countries that the perpertrators (of Mumbai
attacks) will be brought to book. We hope that these criminals
will be handed over to us to face trial," he told a press
conference after inaugurating the annual Indian Science
Congress here.

Pakistan Friday ruled out extradition of the
perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, saying there was no
treaty between the two countries.

In the midst of hysteria emanating from Pakistan, the
Prime Minister said war is not a solution.

Replying to a question on terrorism emanating from
Bangladesh, Singh said "It is true that certain insurgent
groups have taken refuge in Bangladesh and this has been
brought to the notice of the government (in Dhaka).

"We have not had any cooperation from them. We will take
up the issue of insurgents taking refuge in Bangladesh with
the new government. I sincerely hope that the new government
in Bangladesh will take appropriate measures to see that the
territory of Bangladesh will not be allowed for terrorist acts
against India, in particular the North East."

Noting that terrorism emanating from Bangladesh was was
a "cause of worry", he said "We have brought this to the
notice of successive Bangladesh governments. But there has
been no cooperation so far. We hope the new PM elect of
Bangladesh would keep her promise to root out terrorism from
the region."

To another question, he said the Indian border with
Bangladesh was porous and infiltration has been taking place.
Fencing has been going on but it has to be accelerated,
he said, adding the issue will be discussed in the Cabinet
Committee on Security next week.

Visiting the region two days after the serial blasts in
Assam, Singh asserted that government will never compromise
with those using the gun.

The government will go to any extent to root out
terrorism from the country but was open to holding dialogue
with those laying down arms, the Prime Minister said.

"The growing menace of terrorism and naxalism is a cause
of worry. The government will not compromise with terrorism,"
Singh said.

"There were some initial setbacks, but we will overcome
them. The government will go to any extent to root out
terrorism from the country," Singh said referring to the
terrorist strikes in Mumbai, Delhi and Assam.

Asked whether the Centre was open to talks with the
banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Singh said,
"all insurgent groups must recognise that the only course open
to them is to lay down arms. We will never compromise with
those who believe in the use of gun to get solution to their
real or imaginary problems."

He said insurgents and terrorists must recognise that
gun is no solution to get their demands met.

"Once they lay down arms as Indian citizens we are
willing to talk to anybody," he said. PTI