Pakistan warns befitting response against any attempted hot pursui

Islamabad, Mar 5 (UNI) Pakistan today warned that any attempt of indulging in hot pursuit against it would be met with a befitting response.

''Any attempt to cross the border or the Line of Control (LoC) will be effectively countered,'' foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam told a press briefing in Islamabad.

She was commenting on a reported statement by the Indian defence minister A K Antony that his troops would carry out strikes in areas where the illegal cross-border infiltration was taking place.

Ms Aslam said there should be no doubt in any one's mind that Pakistan had the capability and determination to effectively deal with such threats and defend its borders, adding that such statement can only be described as irresponsible as these militate against the efforts of the two governments to improve the environment.

On the first-ever meeting of the joint anti-terror mechanism, which is slated for tomorrow in Islamabad, she reiterated that Pakistan would approach the forthcoming meeting with a positive mindset.

She said, ''Indian leadership had assured us that whatever information they had by that time about Samjhota Express tragedy would be shared with Pakistan.'' On the issue of fishermen and civilian prisoners, she said this was a humanitarian issue.

''Pakistan always favoured greater attention to the plight of prisoners but unfortunately it has not received the kind of cooperation it had hoped for,'' the spokeswoman said.

She maintained that both countries had finalised names for a Committee on Prisoners comprising retired judges and hoped that its meeting would take place soon to look into the plight of the prisoners.

She added that it would also suggest procedures to both governments about humane treatment and their expeditious release.

The spokesperson said currently there were 513 Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails, including 50 fishermen and 463 civilians.

In the last four years, Pakistan released 2,637 Indian prisoners while India has released only 713 Pakistani prisoners.

It has also been noted that a large number of prisoners released by India have lost their mental faculties and were torturned in Indian jails, she alleged.

She said there were many Pakistani prisoners who continue to remain in prison even after completing their prison term, adding that ruling of the High Court of Indian Punjab to grant compensation to such prisoners is a testimony to this fact.

Ms Aslam said Pakistani authorities provided consular access to 44 Indian prisoners in Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore on February 15 but Indians provided access to only five prisoners against 160 sought by Pakistan.

UNI