Letter to the Chairman of the Committee
from the High Commissioner for Pakistan
You would be aware that the tragic event in
Mumbai has once again served to vitiate the regional environment
in South Asia. The democratic government of Pakistan is determined
to work towards peaceful relations with all its neighbours in
the region including India. In this spirit, Pakistan was one of
the first countries to condemn in the strongest possible terms
the heinous crime in Mumbai. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime
Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani have extended their condolences to
the Indian leadership at the tragic loss of innocent lives.
Pakistan believes that terrorism is a problem afflicting
the whole of South Asia. In our view to deal with this problem,
both sides need to adopt a pragmatic and responsible approach
that would prevent the recurrence of any such incident in India,
Pakistan or elsewhere. Blame game and political point scoring
is counter productive and unacceptable.
I have enclosed with this letter a brief summary
of the steps taken by Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attack.
I request you to bring these points to the attention of all the
members of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Wajd Shamsul Hasan
26 January 2009
Aide Memoire
— The Government of Pakistan has condemned
the Mumbai terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms.
— Pakistan has extended an offer of cooperation
to India and has made a number of proposals including joint investigations,
establishment of a joint commission between the two countries
as well as offered to send a high-level delegation to India.
— Pakistan has also initiated its own investigations
pertaining to Mumbai attacks. These investigations are aimed at
uncovering full facts pertaining to the Mumbai incident.
— Pakistan believes that terrorism is a
problem afflicting the whole of South Asia. Pragmatic and responsible
approach, including cooperation between the relevant investigation
departments, is the imperative need of the hour to deal with the
Mumbai terrorist attacks and to prevent the recurrence of any
such incident in India, Pakistan or elsewhere.
— Pakistan regrets the propaganda campaign
unleashed by India to malign Pakistan. Blame game and political
point scoring is counter productive and unacceptable.
— In contrast, Pakistan has maintained
a constructive and measured approach in dealing with India in
the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
— New Delhi should seriously consider Pakistan's
proposal for joint investigations. So far, India has not accepted
any of the proposals made by Pakistan including sending of a high-level
delegation.
— Pakistan upholds the internationally
recognized principle of due process and has requested the Indian
government to provide it with evidence which is legally tenable
in a court of law.
— India has provided an "information
dossier" which experts in the Ministry of Interior in Pakistan
are presently examining.
— The Government of Pakistan has taken
a number of steps to fulfil its international obligations flowing
from the enlistment of Jamat-ul-Dawa by the UN Sanctions committee
under UNSC 1267 on 10 December 2008.
— Most recently, on 16 January 2009,
Pakistan launched a formal inquiry into the Mumbai incident. The
department leading this inquiry, the Federal Investigation Agency
(FIA) has constituted a special investigation group comprising
competent counterterrorism and investigation experts.
Pakistan has also taken other measures such
as:
— Place 124 persons under close supervision
as provided in schedule IV of anti terrorist Act of 1997.
— Detain 71 persons for interrogation.
— Place 52 activists of Jamat-ul-dawa
(JuD) on exit control list.
— Cancel arms licenses of 7 activists
of JuD.
— Instruct the State Bank of Pakistan to
advise all banks to freeze accounts of JuD.
— Subsequently, 13 bank accounts of
JuD have been frozen. Notification has also been issued to ban
JuD publications and 6 JuD websites.
— These steps taken by Pakistan reflect
our resolve in handling this matter with due seriousness and a
high sense of responsibility.
— The Indian contention that Pakistan is
reluctant to take action or has not been cooperative is therefore
not only inaccurate but also self-serving.
— Pakistan expects its friends in the international
community and particularly in the United Kingdom to use its influence
on the Indian Government to consider with due seriousness Pakistan's
offer of cooperation and urge the Indian leadership to resume
the stalled Pakistan-India peace process as early as possible.
|
