Pak says tension with India reduced but not fully over yet

Islamabad, Jan 5 (ANI): Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi ruled out the possibility of handing over any suspects of the Mumbai terror attacks to India, and said that tension with India has reduced, but is not over yet.

"Friends and important nations in the region and beyond have played a positive role to defuse the tension," Qureshi said on Sunday.

Qureshi again ruled out the possibility of handing over any suspects, a day after the Indian prime minister asked Islamabad to hand over those behind the attacks.

"We do not have an extradition treaty with India," the Daily Times quoted Qureshi, as saying.

He said Pakistan had an extradition treaty with the United States, but no such agreement existed with India, adding Pakistan remained committed to maintaining friendly ties with all its neighbours and prescribed a regional approach to tackle terrorism.

Qureshi said the Mumbai attacks had suspended the composite dialogue process between India and Pakistan.

"There is a pause in the composite dialogue but we will endeavour to end this pause and move towards normal relations. We must emerge from the stress," NNI quoted Qureshi as saying.

He said Pakistan had adopted a three-pronged strategy to reduce tension with India after the Mumbai attacks.

"The first was to avoid war, as it is no solution to any problem. We think it will cause more destruction and would complicate matters for both sides."

The other two were attempts to save Pakistan from isolation and to ensure internal stability, he added.

"I will not say we have achieved the objectives as yet but we are very close to achieving these goals. But the situation is fast moving to defusing tension". (ANI)