India not ready to extradite Kasab
* Chidambaram to discuss issue in meeting with Rehman Malik
* Upcoming SAARC meeting to focus on enhancing cooperation among police forces of member countries
By Iftikhar Gilani
NEW DELHI: Indian officials have termed untenable Pakistans demand for the extradition of Mumbai attacker Ajmal Amir Kasab.
In response to an Indian dossier, Pakistan, among other things, has sent photocopies of an arrest warrant issued by a Lahore court against Kasab and has also sought access to the magistrate who prosecuted Kasab.
After consulting experts in the Indian Law Ministry, the Indian government has termed Pakistans demand untenable, as it lacks requisite international legal procedure, official sources revealed.
Neither has their Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) approached the competent court in their country, nor have they procured a letter of request for the extradition, sources said.
Regarding Pakistans request to seek access to the magistrate who prosecuted Kasab, sources said that India felt that it was not important for the magistrate to appear before a Pakistani court.
Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram, who arrives in Islamabad on Friday, is expected to further discuss the issue during his meetings with Pakistani officials during the 3rd South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) interior ministers meeting.
On the sidelines of the summit, Chidambaram will meet Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday.
Official sources revealed that Chidambaram would also take up the issue of anti-Indian speeches being made by Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed as well as seek the extradition of Dawood Ibrahim, who India believes is hiding in Karachi.
SAARC meeting: During his SAARC engagements, Chidambaram is expected to press for early ratification by Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal of the SAARC Mutual Legal Assistance agreement on criminal issues.
The issue is pending before SAARC since 2008 due to delay in ratification by these countries.
The conference will also discuss ways to strengthen the Colombo-based SAARC Terror Offences Monitoring Desk and Drug Offences Monitoring Desk. The two groups have the responsibility to deal with these threats at regional level.
However, the main focus would remain cooperation among police forces of the eight member countries.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan