ID :
41612
Tue, 01/20/2009 - 10:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/41612
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Pak promises 'transparent' probe into Mumbai attacks
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Jan 19 (PTI) Pakistan Monday called on India to cooperate with it to help bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice while insisting that it will conduct "transparent and legally tenable inquiry" into the carnage.
Briefing foreign envoys on Pakistan's response to the
Mumbai terror attacks and its own probe into information
provided by India on the incident, Foreign Minister Shah
Mahmood Qureshi said "India should cooperate with Pakistan to
help bring the culprits of this heinous crime to justice".
Qureshi "stressed that the blame game should be avoided"
and "reaffirmed the government's determination to extend full
cooperation and assistance in investigating the Mumbai
incident," said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The meeting, co-chaired by Qureshi and interior ministry
chief Rehman Malik, was attended by ambassadors and high
commissioners of most foreign missions in Islamabad. Official
sources said the Indian High Commissioner was not invited for
the meeting because he was briefed by Foreign Secretary Salman
Bashir a few days ago.
Qureshi said it is Pakistan's "firm resolve" to fight
terrorism.
He said it was "important that India responds positively
to Pakistan's proposals for engagement to address meaningfully
the issue of terrorism in the region and specific to Mumbai".
In his address, Malik said the government had taken
several "concrete steps", including the detention of suspects,
launch of a formal inquiry and forming a probe team comprising
experts of the elite Special Investigation Group.
He said the terms of reference for the inquiry reflected
Pakistan's "intent to conduct a transparent and legally
tenable inquiry" and proceed with the prosecution of suspects
"in accordance with the law of the land".
Malik also spoke of the "imperative need for cooperation
between Pakistan and India to investigate the Mumbai attacks".
The meeting, attended among others by the envoys of the
US, Britain and China, was perceived as part of efforts by
Pakistan to counter the diplomatic initiative launched by New
Delhi.
The government has faced criticism at home and abroad for
its handling of the fallout of the Mumbai attack and its
response to the diplomatic campaign mounted by India.
This was the first major briefing for diplomats in
Islamabad after the Mumbai attacks in November last year.
Media reports suggested that the government might share
with the envoys some "new information" that had not been
publicised so far but there was no official word in this
regard. PTI RHL
Islamabad, Jan 19 (PTI) Pakistan Monday called on India to cooperate with it to help bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice while insisting that it will conduct "transparent and legally tenable inquiry" into the carnage.
Briefing foreign envoys on Pakistan's response to the
Mumbai terror attacks and its own probe into information
provided by India on the incident, Foreign Minister Shah
Mahmood Qureshi said "India should cooperate with Pakistan to
help bring the culprits of this heinous crime to justice".
Qureshi "stressed that the blame game should be avoided"
and "reaffirmed the government's determination to extend full
cooperation and assistance in investigating the Mumbai
incident," said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The meeting, co-chaired by Qureshi and interior ministry
chief Rehman Malik, was attended by ambassadors and high
commissioners of most foreign missions in Islamabad. Official
sources said the Indian High Commissioner was not invited for
the meeting because he was briefed by Foreign Secretary Salman
Bashir a few days ago.
Qureshi said it is Pakistan's "firm resolve" to fight
terrorism.
He said it was "important that India responds positively
to Pakistan's proposals for engagement to address meaningfully
the issue of terrorism in the region and specific to Mumbai".
In his address, Malik said the government had taken
several "concrete steps", including the detention of suspects,
launch of a formal inquiry and forming a probe team comprising
experts of the elite Special Investigation Group.
He said the terms of reference for the inquiry reflected
Pakistan's "intent to conduct a transparent and legally
tenable inquiry" and proceed with the prosecution of suspects
"in accordance with the law of the land".
Malik also spoke of the "imperative need for cooperation
between Pakistan and India to investigate the Mumbai attacks".
The meeting, attended among others by the envoys of the
US, Britain and China, was perceived as part of efforts by
Pakistan to counter the diplomatic initiative launched by New
Delhi.
The government has faced criticism at home and abroad for
its handling of the fallout of the Mumbai attack and its
response to the diplomatic campaign mounted by India.
This was the first major briefing for diplomats in
Islamabad after the Mumbai attacks in November last year.
Media reports suggested that the government might share
with the envoys some "new information" that had not been
publicised so far but there was no official word in this
regard. PTI RHL
