International

Hope “pause” is only a “hiccup,” says Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is keeping up the pressure on India to respond to its demand for evidence linking its nationals to the Mumbai attacks, and to its offer of a joint investigation and another offer to send a “high-level delegation” to New Delhi.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a press conference on Wednesday that Pakistan had received no evidence through the “proper diplomatic channels” and had only seen reports in the press.

He also said there was no response “either positive or negative” from India to the offer of a joint investigation from Pakistan, and a later offer to send a high-level team whose composition the government has not specified. But he expressed optimism that the peace process would come out of what External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee described as a “pause.”

“I hope, I’m confident that we’ll overcome this hiccup and I’m optimistic,” said Mr. Qureshi, adding: “We have a common objective. We have a common challenge. We have a common enemy. Let us join hands to defeat this enemy.”

Meanwhile, Sweden lent its voice to the international community’s demand that Pakistan must act against the perpetrators of the Mumbai outrage.

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who addressed the press conference with Mr. Qureshi, said he had received information from other governments that Pakistan-based militants were behind the Mumbai attacks. He said Pakistan had a special responsibility to cooperate in the investigation.

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