India asks Pakistan to cooperate against terror

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) A day after turning down Islamabad's proposal for joint investigation into the Samjhauta Express explosions, India today asked Pakistan to cooperate in identifying and punishing those guilty of the gruesome tragedy ''wherever they exist.'' ''This attack underlines the need for effective coordination against terrorist groups wherever they exist. We hope Pakistan will cooperate in identifying the assailants and punishing them,'' External Affairs MInistry spokesman Navtej Sarna said today.

The spokesman, while expressing gratitude to world leaders for universal condemnation of the February 18-19 incident which claimed 68 lives, reaffirmed India's determination to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.

Meanwhile, a special aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)--IC-130--landed here for carrying seven of the ten injured Pakistani nationals back home. They were admitted to the Safdarjang hospital after the tragedy. The other three have expressed the desire to return via Wagah, the spokesman added.

The Indian Railways have also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each of the next of kin of those killed in the explosions and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Modalities of how to award the compensation, would be decided later, the spokesman added.

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