Unfair to say Pakistan has not done enough: Qureshi

Ajay Kaul
Islamabad, Jun 27 (PTI) Pakistan on Sunday termed as
"presumptuous" India's contention that enough was not being
done in the Mumbai attacks case, saying the two countries
would understand "each other's challenges and difficulties"
only through engagement.
In an interview to PTI, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah
Mehmood Qureshi pressed for a common approach to deal with
terrorism and promised to take action against any handler of
26/11, insisting that Islamabad will not sleep over leads
forwarded to it.
As India raises questions over the speed of trial in
Pakistan in the 26/11 case, Qureshi said the pace was slow
because of "complications" arising from the fact that the
crime was committed in a different country and exchange of
information was a "cumbersome" process.
He said India and Pakistan should work together to
send out a message to terrorists that they cannot "drive a
wedge" between the two countries.
"If you say Pakistan has not moved, it will be
unfair," Qureshi said when pointed to India's refrain that
enough has not been done by Islamabad in investigating the
26/11 case and bringing to book all those behind the carnage.
"Do not question our sincerity. We want to move on
because terrorism is hitting us as well," the Pakistan Foreign
Minister said.
India has been complaining that Pakistan is not taking
action against Mumbai attacks mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz
Saeed and other identified handlers continue to be at large.
When referred to this, Qureshi said, "this is being
presumptuous. You are presuming because we are not talking.
You are presuming because we are not in contact".
He said when the two sides "sit, meet and talk, these
presumptions will disappear and the reality will surface. When
the reality surfaces, we will be able to understand each
other's challenges and difficulties".
Home Minister P Chidambaram during his meeting with
his Pakistani counterpart Rahman Malik here said there were
more people behind the Mumbai attack who should be prosecuted.
The Minister said India and Pakistan needed to develop
a joint strategy to deal with these challenges and
difficulties.
To a question, he insisted that Pakistan was following
up on information provided by India with regard to the Mumbai
attacks.
"Pakistan is following up (on the information).
Believe me, if we get leads, we are not going to sleep over
them. We are going to take action. We are going to follow
those leads," he maintained. (MORE) PTI AKK
RBT


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