Pak taking Indian dossier 'extremely seriously': Gilani

Islamabad, Jan 24 (PTI) Pakistan is taking India's
dossier on the Mumbai terror attacks "extremely seriously" and
will "have to act fast" to complete its probe, Premier Yousuf
Raza Gilani has said.

"The dossier passed on to the government of Pakistan, we
are taking it extremely seriously, and we have already started
(an) investigation and the results will come soon," he told
the 'Financial Times' daily in an interview.

Gilani also hinted that Pakistan could consider the
option of extraditing terror suspects to India if relations
between the two countries were normalised.

Replying to a question on whether he would ever agree to
extradition of terror suspects to India, he said: "So far
there is no such thing. But that depends on our normalisation
of relations."

Asked how quickly the Pakistani investigation into the
Mumbai attacks will proceed, Gilani replied, "I don't want to
step into the domain of the Interior Ministry but at the same
time we have to act fast."

The Premier said he had also spoken to his Indian
counterpart Manmohan Singh about extending full cooperation
for further intelligence sharing. "And even for getting to the
culprits, we'll be needing their assistance," he said.

If any culprits are detected during the Pakistani
investigation, the government will "proceed according to the
law and we will ensure...that justice will be done", he said.

The Indo-Pak ties nose-dived in the wake of the Mumbai
attacks that killed over 180 people. India blamed Pakistan-
based elements for masterminding and coordinating the attacks.

After weeks of denial, Pakistan recently acknowledged
that Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested in India
during the attacks, is a Pakistani national.

Asked if it was his understanding that the attacks were
launched from Pakistan, Gilani said: "No, this is not the
issue because the government of India doesn't blame the
government (of Pakistan), they don't even blame the
organisations, institutions.

"They were only pointing out to the individuals, and
individuals, those people, are from every part of the world."

Gilani described the New Year's greetings and peace
message he had recently received from Prime Minister Singh as
"a good sign".

"But the people of India and the world and of course, us,
we also want to see some actions...when India will see that
our intention and our investigations, and whatever information
is provided to us, we are dealing on merit, I think that would
help our relationship," he added.

Noting that Uzbek, Chechen, Arab and Afghan terrorists
are operating in Pakistan, Gilani contended that such persons
should be countered but an attack could not be launched on
their country of origin.

"Even I heard some information coming from India that
anything of such nature will happen again, we will make
Pakistan responsible," he said.

Replying to a question on whether he worried about
another attack on India, Gilani said, "They are worried, we
are worried too.

"How can we take care of two countries because they have
their own intelligence agencies? Had they that sort of
information and they wanted to share with us, prior to the
incident, may be we would have been in a position to help
them."

Gilani said: "Every country says we'll take on Pakistan,
and whatever happens anywhere in the world they say we'll take
on Pakistan.

"I have talked to the world community: okay we are
serious, you are serious, let's look in to how we resolve the
issue. We should go into the root cause, we are ready to
cooperate with you."

Gilani also contended that Pakistan is an underdeveloped
country that did not have the resources to fully counter
terrorism.

"When it comes to Pakistan, the world should also
understand that they have to build up the capacity of Pakistan
too," he said.

The Premier said he wanted to resolve the issues of his
people and that Pakistan did not "want war with any country
and we can't afford war".

He insisted that the suicide bombings on slain former
premier Benazir Bhutto's motorcade in Karachi after her return
home from self-imposed exile in October 2007 was "much, much
more than" the Mumbai attacks.

Gilani gave an assurance that Pakistani soil "will not be
used for terrorism against anybody because that is our
responsibility...we are a peaceful country, we want to
maintain excellent relations with our neighbours, and we have
to focus on the real issues".

Pakistan would also amend its anti-terrorism laws if the
need arose as the existing legislation "doesn't apply to
people who have committed an offence outside" the country, he
said. "Naturally we have to go according to the laws and if
need be, we have to amend the laws."