Author: Agencies
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: May 20, 2003
Introduction: Return of Criminals
to Top Dy PM's Agenda during Washington Visit
Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani
may take up with Washington the issue of Pakistan handing over 20 terrorists
and criminals sought by India during his visit to the US beginning June
8. Mr Ad-vani had told US deputy secretary of stale Richard Armitage, when
he was here recently, that he was unable to understand why Islamabad was
hesitant in returning those 20 terrorists and criminals, sources said.
They said Mr Armitage was told by Mr Advani that when Pakistan could hand
over 500 Al-Qaeda men to the US, it should as well send back the 20 men
wanted by India. The deputy Prime Minister is expected to meet top US leaders
during his visit and tell them the world has noted that
Washington's change in attitude towards terrorism was because of the September
11 strikes.
Sources said Pakistan is contin-uing
to encourage cross-border terrorism against India as part of its strategy
to keep its own people 'satisfied' on one hand and make concessions to
the US by taking action against Taliban to keep Washington on its side
in Indo-Pakistan affairs, on the other.
Mr Advani is likely to convey to
the US leaders that Pakistan must convince the international community
that it has put an end to cross- border terrorism. The deputy Prime Minister
may also take up with the US leaders the need for a rethink by the international
community on ways and means to fight terrorism, especially the new device
of suicide bombers. The government had a feeling that it appeared that
infiltration from across the border was 'minimal' these da-ys but one could
not be sure it would remain so, he said.
"There are ups and downs in respect
of infiltration as also the violence in Jammu and Kash-mir, but these depend
on various factors, mainly on our success," the sources said. - Agencies.
