26/11 culprits must be held, Indian help in probe welcome: Pak

Islamabad, Jan 18 (PTI) Asserting that all the "culprits"
behind the Mumbai attacks "must be apprehended", Pakistan
Sunday said Indian investigators will "be more than welcomed"
to help in its probe into the terror strikes.

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik also said anyone
found to be involved in the "heinous" attacks would be
prosecuted under the country's anti-terror laws.

Malik's comments came a day after he acknowledged that
the evidence about Mumbai terror attacks given to Pakistan by
India contained "leads and good clues".

"All the culprits (involved in the Mumbai attacks) must
be apprehended. Who will support such acts?" he told reporters
in Lahore today after a meeting to brief opposition PML-N
chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Punjab Chief Minister
Shahbaz Sharif, about Pakistan's probe.

Earlier, during an interview with Geo News channel, Malik
said Pakistan's investigations into the Mumbai attacks are
being conducted under the country's laws and the government
will not accept any foreign pressure in this regard.

He said no assistance would be sought from foreign
countries though Indian investigators will "be more than
welcomed" to help in the probe.

"Pakistan is very open and the inquiry officers have been
bestowed with full powers to fulfil their task," Malik said.

India should reciprocate Pakistan's gestures in the same
spirit and allow Pakistani investigators to travel to the
neighbouring country, he indicated. The Pakistani inquiry
"cannot proceed without the provision of legally tangible
evidence", he remarked.

If anyone is found to be involved in the "heinous"
attacks, the person would be prosecuted under Pakistan's
Anti-Terrorism Act, the interior ministry chief said.

Malik also told the channel that if India persisted with
its demand for the extradition of Pakistani nationals
allegedly linked to the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan would seek
the handing over of persons involved in the 2007 bombing of
the Samjhauta Express train.

After reports appeared in Indian media suggesting a
possible link of the Malegaon blast accused with the train
attack, political leaders here have been saying that the
government should seek the extradition of Indian nationals,
including Col S K Purohit, for the bombing of the cross-border
train that killed nearly 70 people, including Pakistanis.

"If the Indian demand for handing over the accused in the
Mumbai attacks persisted, then the accused of the Samjhauta
Express case might be asked for" by Pakistan, Malik said.

Replying to a question about Indian fears of
Talibanisation of the region, he urged Indian authorities to
share their findings in this regard with Pakistan and
cooperate with it in its bid to exterminate terrorism and
extremism from South Asia.

He also said Pakistan is part of the world community
and a member of various international forums and is thus bound
to fulfil its international obligations.

Malik told the media in Lahore that action had also been
taken against outlawed groups like the Jamaat-ud-Dawah by the
provincial government of Punjab.

"Don't forget, (the Jamaat's headquarters at) Muridke is
in Punjab (and) major action has been taken by the government
of Punjab," he said.

Malik said he would meet leaders of other political
parties soon to brief them on Pakistan's probe into the Mumbai
attacks. PTI RHL SDG AKJ
ASJ
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