Setting clear terms for resumption of talks with Pakistan, India has said that it would agree to begin a dialogue only if Islamabad handed over seven to ten persons from the list of 20 wanted criminals and terrorists given by new Delhi, and brought down cross-border terrorism to a considerable level. India will wait and see the change on the ground situation before agreeing for talks and if Pakistan hands over seven to 10 fugitives wanted by US and brings down cross-border terrorism by 30 to 50 per cent, then the relations can be normalised, information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj told Pakistan daily 'The News' in an interview.

Handing over of the wanted persons and bringing down cross-border militancy to a considerable level by Pakistan is necessary to change those circumstances that forced India to impose certain sanctions, Swaraj, who is in Islamabad for past three days to take part in the SAARC Information Ministers Conference, said. When pointed out that there was no extradition treaty between the two countries, she said our external affairs ministry will consider it, if your foreign office says that it is considering the list of fugitives wanted by India and we require to discuss the extradition treaty.

She also said that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf during his visit to India last year positively responded to home minister L K Advani's proposal to have an extradition treaty between the two countries but backed out when he was asked to hand over Dawood Ibrahim, the mastermind of Mumbai riots.
Bureau Report