Pak to respond to India's second demarche in a couple of days

Islamabad, Dec.8 (ANI): The Pakistan Government has said that it will respond to the Indian Government's second demarche on what actions the former proposes to take vis-à-vis the Mumbai terror strikes in a few days.

India is expecting the response on Monday, but authorities in Islamabad have indicated that it could take some more days before a response is forwarded.

Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal met on Saturday, and at that time, there was an indication that a response would be forthcoming on Monday.

According to the Dawn, India handed over two demarches to Pakistan on December 1. The Indian External Affairs Ministry issued the first one to Pakistan's High Commissioner in New Delhi, Shahid Malik,, while the second one was delivered at the Foreign Office by Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal.

In the first demarche, India had accused elements from Pakistan of carrying out the terrorist attack in Mumbai and said it expected Islamabad to match its sentiments with deeds by taking stern action against the groups that could have been involved in the attack.

Pakistan responded to the first demarche the same evening, proposing that India to establish a joint investigation commission headed by national security advisers of the two countries for investigating the Mumbai incident.

The second demarche had sought the extradition of three wanted people - Maulana Masood Azhar, Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim. Pakistan has kept its response to this one on hold, wanting to closely study the Indian demands before replying to them.

The demarche also seeks action against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which is on the government's watch-list.

Sources here suggest that Pakistan will ask India to provide 'significant proof' of the involvement of the three people in the Mumbai attacks before seeking their extradition.

The Dawn says that Pakistan is basing its position on the absence of extradition treaty between the two countries. (ANI)