India trying to exonerate Samjhauta attack suspects: Pakistan

Pakistan on Thursday said the Indian government was trying to "exonerate" right-wing individuals suspected of involvement in the 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing and revealed that the issue had been raised by Islamabad during the foreign secretaries meet last month.

"It appears that the Indian government is trying to exonerate individuals who, many in India itself believe, were involved in the Samjhauta Express terrorist attack, resulting in the loss of lives of more than 42 innocent Pakistanis," Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said at a press briefing here.

He was replying to a question on whether India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was "cleaning up all terror acts committed by Hindu terrorists".

He noted that Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, during his meeting with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar in New Delhi last month, had conveyed Pakistan's concern and urged the Indian government for "fair investigation and trial" of the Samjhauta attackers.

"It is only through fair, timely and judicious administration of justice that any society can sustain itself as a respected member of the global community," he said.

The comments come in the wake of India's national probe agency chief saying no evidence had been found against Lt. Col. Shrikant Purohit, one of the main accused in the Samjhauta blasts.

Zakaria said Pakistan also has serious concerns about India's interceptor missile test on Wednesday and will take all necessary measures to augment its defence capabilities.

"Indian actions are against the spirit of a peaceful and friendly neighbourhood and would upset the balance of power in the region."

He said Pakistan has "sensitised the US during the 8th Round of Working Group on Security, Strategic Stability and Non-proliferation and Members of Conference on Disarmament in Geneva about Pakistan's concerns about India's ambitious missile programme".

--IANS

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