Pak minister invites Advani for extradition talks

Pakistani Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat has invited Indian Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to visit Pakistan for a structured dialog...

Pakistani Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat has invited Indian Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to visit Pakistan for a structured dialogue on the modalities of a bilateral extradition treaty and other priority issues related to the internal security of both the countries.

In a telephonic interview from his Lahore residence on Wednesday, Hayat told this correspondent in Brussels that he was extending the invitation to Advani through the media and would send the same to him formally through the diplomatic channel.

‘‘The ice in relations of India and Pakistan has melted and I would like Advani to visit Pakistan to discuss the areas related to the internal security of both the countries,’’ said Hayat.

Story continues below this ad

The minister declared that Pakistan was willing to conclude a bilateral extradition treaty with India. ‘‘We are certainly prepared to go ahead in discussing the modalities of a bilateral extradition treaty with India as we want to discuss all those issues which could obviate mistrust in both the countries,’’ he said, adding that they would also like to discuss the issue of an extradition treaty at the SAARC level.

In response to a question, he said he was not aware of the list of so-called terrorists received from India. ‘‘Without a legal framework in the form of an extradition treaty nothing can be done on this issue,’’ he said, adding, ‘‘We also have some needs and we can also make a list of terrorists who are needed to be extradited from India, but we are not doing that as we believe that everything should be done on reciprocal basis within a legal framework.’’

The minister said: ‘‘Internal security is a wide area and we want to discuss all such issues which could be in the best interest of the people of both the countries.’’ Asked to enumerate the priority areas related to internal security, which he would like to discuss with Advani, Hayat said: ‘‘We should discuss several areas which could remove mistrust in both the countries. Cooperation in the war against terror can be an area which should be discussed between both the countries as Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism since long.’’

He also mentioned a possible campaign against money-laundering which, according to him, needed discussions between the two countries.

Story continues below this ad

‘‘We want to make progress in the overall composite dialogue and the process would include many positive steps to the benefit of the people of both the countries,’’ he said.

‘‘Another problem faced by the people of both the countries is related to visa facilitation, which I would like to discuss with Advani,’’ Hayat said, adding, ‘‘We need to look into the visa regime as it is causing lots of difficulty for people.’’ The minister adhered to the trend set by President Pervez Musharraf and did not touch any issue which could be reckoned as an ‘‘issue of divergence’’. He said: ‘‘I do not want to vitiate the environment for dialogue created with lots of efforts, but I may mention that we do have some misgivings on the role being played by Indian consulates in Afghanistan and we would certainly like to discuss the issue with Advani.’’

— (The News)