India seeks response on fugitives

NEW DELHI—Pakistan has not responded positively to India’s request to hand over the persons involved in various crimes and terrorist activities in that country, Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee informed the Rajya Sabha Thursday.
He said during the Foreign Secretary level talks on November 14-15 this year, Pakistan had expressed its willingness to cooperate based on specific inputs provided by India on terrorist incidents. “India has, from time to time, given to Pakistan lists of fugitives from Indian law wanted for crimes and terrorist acts in India and known to be in Pakistan, with the request that they be apprehended and handed over to India,” Mukherjee said in a written reply. Replying to a question on whether India and Pakistan were close to an agreement on Siachen as reported in certain sections of the media, the Minister said India’s position on the issue was that authentication of the presently held positions has to be the first step before any redeployment of troops is considered.—Agencies