Islamabad has rejected India`s formal request for extradition of Pakistan nationals involved in the hijacking of IC-814 in December 1999, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs Ajit Kumar Panja said, India had informed Pakistan that there were grounds to believe that the hijackers were present in that country. The Pakistan Government, as a signatory to several international conventions against terrorism and also bilateral agreements with India has the obligation to extradite them to India. The Pakistan Government had in response to Indian requests, reiterated the general position that it would undertake to apprehend and prosecute any persons found on its territory or in POK suspected of being involved in the hijacking. However, as at the same time Pakistan had rejected India`s demarche, its general commitment was of little value, Panja said.
Report: Zeenext Bureau