India, Pak all set to ink extradition treaty: Report

India and Pakistan are all set to ink an extradition treaty and Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani has been invited to Islamabad to discuss the modalities of the treaty.

The invitation was extended by Pakistani Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat.

"The ice in relations between India and Pakistan has melted and I would like Advani to visit Pakistan to discuss the areas related to the internal security of both the countries," Hayat said in an interview to The News.

Hayat said he is extending invitation to Advani to visit Pakistan through media and a formal invitation would be sent though diplomatic channels shortly.

"We are certainly prepared to discuss the modalities of a bilateral extradition treaty with India as we want to discuss all those issues which could obviate mistrust in both the countries," he said.

He, however, said nothing much could be done at present to take action on the list of 21 terrorists given by India for extradition.

The list includes Mumbai underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and leaders of militant outfits, including, Maulana Masood Azhar of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hafeez Saeed of Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Syed Salahuddin of Hizbul Mujahideen.

"Without a legal framework in the form of an extradition treaty, nothing can be done on this issue. We also have some needs and we can also make a list of terrorists who are needed to be extradited from India, but we are not doing so as we believe that everything should be done on reciprocal basis within a legal framework," Hayat said.

Outlining the issues Pakistan would like to discuss with Advani, Hayat said, "We should discuss several areas, which could remove mistrust in both the countries by following a step-by-step approach. Cooperation in the war against terror can be an area which should be extensively discussed between both the countries as Pakistan had been victim of terrorism since long."

He said internal security is a wide area and 'we want to discuss all such issues which could be in the best interest of the people of both the countries'.

The treaty, according the newspaper, will have provisions regarding handing over of 'terrorists and criminals' wanted in each other's countries.

Quoting 'reliable sources' the newspaper said the two countries have also decided to stop talking to each other through the media, and instead adhere to 'quiet diplomacy'.

Agencies