Qureshi says progress in Mumbai terror probe depends on Indian reply

Islamabad, Feb. 22 (ANI): Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Pakistan would proceed further with its investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks only after receiving a reply to the thirty questions it had handed over to India.

"We are waiting for the Indian response and will take the next step in the light of the reply," The Dawn quoted Qureshi, as saying.

Qureshi, however, has averted any possibility of his first encounter with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee after the Mumbai attacks by announcing that he won't attend the SAARC ministerial conference scheduled for February 27-28 in Colombo.

"Dates of the conference clash with dates of my meetings in Washington," he told reporters, while adding that Minister for State Malik Amad Khan and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir would attend the conference.

Earlier, Pakistan had forwarded a 30 questions set to India along with its response to the Indian dossier on the Mumbai terror attacks.

These questions include, the lone-surviving terrorist of the Mumbai attacks, Ajmal Kasab's statements given to the Indian authorities.

Other queries were regarding fingerprints of Kasab and his accomplices who had taken part in the attack, intercepted conversation, details of seven SIM cards used by the attackers, ID cards and photo images of the nine other terrorists.

Qureshi said that by replying to the Indian dossier, Pakistan had shown its seriousness and good intentions in the Mumbai attack investigation.

"We are treating the issue seriously and our effort is to get to the bottom of the matter," Qureshi said.

Speaking about the delay in seeking extradition of Ajmal Kasab, the minister said the matter was under review. (ANI)