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Pak mum on India's demand to hand over Dawood

July 22, 2009 15:53 IST

India on Wednesday said Pakistan has not responded to its consistent demand for handing over underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and others fugitives.

"We have consistently asked Pakistan to hand over Ibrahim and others to us. The demand has been made in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.... But, unfortunately there has been no response from Pakistan so far," Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said in the Lok Sabha.

The issue was also brought to the United Nations Security Council, which has declared Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jamat-ud-Dawa as terrorist outfits having links with Ibrahim, she said during the Question Hour.

On whether the government has assessed the impact of Pakistan's ongoing conflict with Taliban on India, Kaur said, "Strengthening of our defences against terrorism is a continuous process.

"After the terrorist attack in Mumbai last year, the government has taken all steps to ensure that such attack do not take place again," she said.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha asked what constructive steps have been taken by the government to eliminate terrorist activities carried out by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Kaur said, "We are concerned over what happened in Afghanistan" and New Delhi is playing a constructive role by giving development aid in areas of health, infrastructure and others to Kabul.

Kaur expressed concern over the financial aid being provided to Pakistan by some countries.

"We have made our concern known to the donor countries ... Such aid has been diverted for purposes for which it was not meant for," the minister said, adding that the donor countries have also recognised India's concern.

She asserted, "The government remains committed to taking such steps as are necessary to safeguard our integrity and the safety of our citizens."

"The government continuously monitors and assesses developments in our neighbourhood and in our region. We are concerned about the growth of extremist forces in Pakistan and the implications this has on regional stability," she added.

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