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Pak's denial can't nullify Saeed's role in 26/11: Krishna

April 06, 2012 13:01 IST
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Friday said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan had not felt the need to thoroughly investigate the role of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba founder Hafiz Saeed in the 26/11 attacks.

Talking to the media in Bengaluru, he said "We have repeatedly sent dossiers about Saeed to Pakistan. The dossiers have detailed his role in the attack. No amount of denial from Pakistan can nullify the role Saeed played in the attacks. However, it is sad that Pakistan has not bothered to investigate him properly."

The United States has announced a bounty of $ 10 million on Saeed's head for him role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. 
On questions if Saeed's case would come up for discussion during the meeting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in New Delhi on April 8, Krishna said, "I cannot say whether the Indian prime minister would discuss this matter with Asif Ali Zardari when he visits India. After all it is a private visit and I don't think they would have the time to go into this (talks on Saeed)." 

Zardari will meet Dr Singh over lunch on April 8 before making a private visit to the famous 13th century Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer.

On Indo-Pak relations, Krishna said that there was a change in the mindset over the past three years. "Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani told me when she came to India. I believe what she has said and the ties are looking up," he added.

Vicky Nanjappa in Bengaluru