Pak plane take off delayed because of 'technical glitch' : India

New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) India today made it clear that the delay in the take off of the Pakistan Air Force plane that had come to evacuate the Pakistani nationals injured in the Samjhauta Express explosions, was because of a ''technical glitch'' as one of its engines had developed a problem and had to be repaired by the ground staff.

Refuting media reports that the delay was because India wanted an ''undertaking'' from Pakistan for access to the evacuated passengers for interrogation, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said the request had been made to the Pakistani authorities while conveying clearance for the aircraft.

''We have seen reports in the media speculating on the reasons for the delay on the return of the Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft, which had come to New Delhi on February 22 to take back the injured Pakistanis. Clearance for this aircraft to come to India and evacuate the 10 injured in Safdarjung Hospital had been conveyed in the forenoon the same day,'' the spokesman said.

He said the aircraft could not take off because it developed a ''technical glitch.'' One of its engines developed a problem and had to be repaired by the ground staff of the airport. The aircraft finally took off at 2115 hrs., according to the spokesman. MORE UNI