ID :
40526
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 10:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/40526
The shortlink copeid
UK doesn't feel Pak govt was involved in Mumbai attacks
New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) Britain Tuesday differed with India's view that Pakistan's official agencies could have had a role in Mumbai attacks even as it underlined that Islamabad has the "fundamental" responsibility to target the "roots" of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which was behind the terror strike.
India hoped that Pakistan would hand over the "fugitives
of Indian law", notwithstanding Islamabad's refusal to do so,
and asked the world community to build pressure on Pakistan in
a "concerted" manner to ensure that perpetrators of the Mumbai
attacks are brought to justice.
India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who
held "exhaustive" talks with his British counterpart David
Miliband, apprised him of details of the Mumbai attacks and
its links in Pakistan.
"It is clear where the responsibility lies for Mumbai
attacks, it is with the LeT," Miliband said at a joint press
conference with Mukherjee after their talks.
"Pakistan government, Pakistani state has the primary
responsibility, fundamental responsibility to tackle the roots
of this organisation," the British Foreign Minister said.
On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's view that official
agencies of Pakistan could have been involved in the Mumbai
strikes, Miliband said "we do not believe the attacks were
directed by Pakistani state".
He, however, said it is important to see what is the
"approach of Pakistani state towards LeT organisation and the
way Pakistani state takes on the LeT."
Contending that it is in Pakistan's own interest to go
after terrorists, the British Foreign Minister said the modern
day threat to Pakistan comes from "within its own borders" as
has been highlighted by the assassination of former Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto.
"I think the first priority is to bring the perpetrators
to justice... I think that is the responsibility of the
Pakistan state. It is something we look to them to fulfil as
strong sense of the people of Pakistan and also as a member of
the UN Security Council," Miliband said as he noted that India
has been hit by a series of terror attacks during last year.
When it was pointed out that LeT's front outfit
Jamaat-ud-Dawa continues to function despite the UN ban, he
said Pakistan has a "history of people being arrested and then
not being prosecuted or brought to justice".
He underlined that "In this case, it is essential that
those being arrested are brought to justice and if they are
found guilty they are properly punished. And that is an
appropriate response."
Responding to a question on Islamabad's refusal to
extradite anyone to India, Mukherjee said Pakistan, as a
member of the international community, has various bilateral
and regional obligations to cooperate in ending terrorism.
"I do hope that the material we have provided to Pakistan
and evidences which have given, they will act on it and will
ensure that perpetrators of these terror acts are brought to
justice and some of the fugitives of Indian law who have taken
shelter in Pakistan will be handed over to India for their
proper justice," he said. (MORE) PTI SKU
India hoped that Pakistan would hand over the "fugitives
of Indian law", notwithstanding Islamabad's refusal to do so,
and asked the world community to build pressure on Pakistan in
a "concerted" manner to ensure that perpetrators of the Mumbai
attacks are brought to justice.
India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who
held "exhaustive" talks with his British counterpart David
Miliband, apprised him of details of the Mumbai attacks and
its links in Pakistan.
"It is clear where the responsibility lies for Mumbai
attacks, it is with the LeT," Miliband said at a joint press
conference with Mukherjee after their talks.
"Pakistan government, Pakistani state has the primary
responsibility, fundamental responsibility to tackle the roots
of this organisation," the British Foreign Minister said.
On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's view that official
agencies of Pakistan could have been involved in the Mumbai
strikes, Miliband said "we do not believe the attacks were
directed by Pakistani state".
He, however, said it is important to see what is the
"approach of Pakistani state towards LeT organisation and the
way Pakistani state takes on the LeT."
Contending that it is in Pakistan's own interest to go
after terrorists, the British Foreign Minister said the modern
day threat to Pakistan comes from "within its own borders" as
has been highlighted by the assassination of former Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto.
"I think the first priority is to bring the perpetrators
to justice... I think that is the responsibility of the
Pakistan state. It is something we look to them to fulfil as
strong sense of the people of Pakistan and also as a member of
the UN Security Council," Miliband said as he noted that India
has been hit by a series of terror attacks during last year.
When it was pointed out that LeT's front outfit
Jamaat-ud-Dawa continues to function despite the UN ban, he
said Pakistan has a "history of people being arrested and then
not being prosecuted or brought to justice".
He underlined that "In this case, it is essential that
those being arrested are brought to justice and if they are
found guilty they are properly punished. And that is an
appropriate response."
Responding to a question on Islamabad's refusal to
extradite anyone to India, Mukherjee said Pakistan, as a
member of the international community, has various bilateral
and regional obligations to cooperate in ending terrorism.
"I do hope that the material we have provided to Pakistan
and evidences which have given, they will act on it and will
ensure that perpetrators of these terror acts are brought to
justice and some of the fugitives of Indian law who have taken
shelter in Pakistan will be handed over to India for their
proper justice," he said. (MORE) PTI SKU
