Zardari refuses to hand over suspects

NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON: Pak-istani President Asif Ali Zardari indicated yesterday he would not hand over the 20 terror suspects wanted by India in the wake of the Mumbai attacks as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Islamabad to respond “swiftly and transparently� to New Delhi’s accusations that the gunmen came from across the border. She, however, cautioned India to ensure its response does not provoke unintended consequences.

In an interview with CNN, Zardari strongly denied his country was involved in the Mumbai attacks.

“The gunmen, whoever they are, they are all stateless actors who are holding hostage the whole world,� Zardari told CNN’s Larry King in an interview on Tuesday.

Asked about the attacks by 10 gunmen in Mumbai, which left more than 200 people dead, he said: “The state of Pakistan is, of course, not involved. We are part of the victims.�

Zardari added that he doubted Indian claims that the sole surviving gunman, who was captured by Indian security forces during the 60-hour siege of the city, was a Pakistani.

“We have not been given any tangible proof to say that he is definitely a Pakistani,� he said.

Asked if Pakistan would hand over suspects wanted by India for the attacks, Zardari said: “If we have the proof, we would try them in our courts and we would try them in our land and we would sentence them.�

India called the Pakistani ambassador earlier this week and demanded Pakistan arrest and extradite 20 terror suspects in connection with the attacks on Mumbai.

Indian officials blame the banned outfit Laskhar-e-Taiba for training and equipping the attackers.

Zardari said any Indian strike across the border at a suspected terror base would be counterproductive. “The threat is to the state of Pakistan. There’s a threat to the state in Afghanistan. It’s a threat throughout the region.�

Asked about allegations that the country’s intelligence service has aided extremist groups, Zardari said: “In the past, lots of mistakes have been made. I cannot deny that.� But the present government did not support any such action, he insisted.

“I can assure the world from my side, from my army’s side, from my Parliament’s side and from the people of Pakistan, that we are not helping any such activity.�

Rice, visiting New Delhi yesterday, told Islamabad to cooperate with India in the investigation.

She, however, warned that India should ensure that its response to Pakistan does not provoke unintended consequences. “Any response needs to be judged by its effectiveness in prevention and also by not creating other unintended consequences or difficulties,� Rice said at a press conference after meeting Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Mukherjee, who also attended the press conference, insisted there was “no doubt� that the militants came from Pakistan.

“I informed Rice that there is no doubt the terrorists were individuals who came from Pakistan and whose controllers are in Pakistan,� he said.

New Delhi is “determined to act decisively,� he added. Mukherjee said India wanted to see that “the terrorists and organizations that perpetrated these attacks are arrested and brought to justice.�

“We expect all friendly governments and the international community to ensure that this happens,� he said. “What action will be taken by the government will depend on the response we have from the Pakistan authorities. I am expecting the response, (and) after obtaining the response, whatever the government considers necessary to protect its territorial integrity, safety and security of its citizens, the government will do that.�

Rice told reporters prior to talks with Mukherjee that “Pakistan needs to act with urgency and with resolve and cooperate fully and transparently.�

“That message will be delivered to Pakistan,� said Rice, who is expected to fly to Islamabad today. “This is a time for everyone to cooperate and to do so transparently, and especially a time for Pakistan to do so,� she added.

An Indian government source told AFP that Rice would be handed evidence of a Pakistan link to the attack on a string of targets in India’s economic capital including two luxury hotels, a Jewish center, a popular cafe, a railway station and a hospital.

In Washington, US Attorney General Michael Mukasey said yesterday the United States would have jurisdiction to prosecute the surviving gunman captured in Mumbai, where six Americans were also killed.

But he did not say whether there are plans to do so. He said FBI agents were working with Indian police to provide assistance and gather evidence about the attacks.

“The FBI is looking into any evidence it can get,� Mukasey said. Other US officials have said the FBI is part of a team investigating the attacks.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police yesterday discovered leftover explosives hidden in a bag in Mumbai’s main train station —- a stunning new example of botched security after the deadly rampage that left the government open to accusations it missed warnings and bungled its response.

Nilofar Suhrawardy | Arab News

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