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Pakistan demands proof to act against 20-member list

K J M Varma in Islamabad

Pakistan and India on Tuesday headed for another diplomatic logjam as Islamabad demanded evidence for taking action against 20 criminals and terrorists in the list furnished by New Delhi and asserted no action would be taken against any one of them without proof.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan and Defence spokesman Major General Rashid Qureshi said that while handing over the list on Monday, India had not provided a shred of evidence.

"A list has been received. We will certainly take action if evidence is provided. In the absence of evidence, no action can be taken against them," Khan said.

Qureshi said, "The list has been received. I do not know the names. However, there is no evidence or proof provided. It becomes very difficult to consider any action if there is no proof."

Reminded by journalists that the chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Maulana Masood Azhar, came back to Pakistan after he was released during the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar, he dismissed it as no evidence.

"Just because he was released after hijacking does not amount to evidence. I do not think there is any extradition treaty with Pakistan," Qureshi said.

PTI

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