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Pak delegation is in safe hands, assure Delhi police

Strict and constant vigil is being maintained round the clock to ensure full security to the 19-member Pakistani delegation that arrived in New Delhi on Thursday in the wake of threats from the Shiv Sena.

Delhi Police Commissioner V N Singh said he was ''determined'' to ensure full security.

The delegation is in the capital for the dry run of the proposed bus service between Delhi and Lahore.

''The bus came safely. We are keeping constant vigil. So far there has been no incident and we will see to it that they return happily and safely,'' the police chief said.

Asked to comment on the report that the police had been 'instructed' to use 'whatever' force needed to ensure that no one created any problem, he said, ''Why should we receive instructions? After all it is our duty and we have to ensure their safety. We are doing it.''

The Shiv Sena has threatened that it would not allow the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation bus to go back and also not let the forthcoming India-Pakistan cricket Test take place in the Capital.

Leader of the Pakistani delegation Tajul Islam Yusufzai, a general manager in the Pakistan comunication ministry, said they were aware of the threats by Shiv Sainiks in India and the Jamat-i-Islami in Pakistan. But that would not deter them from carrying out the ''noble mission'' of uniting the people of the two nations.

Expressing satisfaction over the security arrangements, he said that if one paid attention to such threats, the process of normalisation would not progress at all.

''This is an initiative taken by the prime ministers of two countries in New York in September. Such initiatives should be carried forward,'' he said.

UNI

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