An Indian court has issued arrest warrants for 22 Pakistani nationals
accused of planning last year's deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai,
India.
Prosecutors say they want the suspects extradited to India, but Pakistan has rejected such requests before. Officials in Islamabad say any Pakistani suspects will be tried in Pakistani courts.
Among those sought is Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the founder of the Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Saeed had been under house arrest in Pakistan, but a court there ruled earlier this month that he should be released. India is also seeking the arrests of two other leaders of the militant group that it says played a role in the 2008 attacks.
The court issued the arrest warrants following an appeal from a prosecutor in the trial of Mohammed Ajmal Kasab -- a Pakistani who is allegedly the only surviving gunman from the Mumbai attacks.
Prosecutors say they want the suspects extradited to India, but Pakistan has rejected such requests before. Officials in Islamabad say any Pakistani suspects will be tried in Pakistani courts.
Among those sought is Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the founder of the Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Saeed had been under house arrest in Pakistan, but a court there ruled earlier this month that he should be released. India is also seeking the arrests of two other leaders of the militant group that it says played a role in the 2008 attacks.
The court issued the arrest warrants following an appeal from a prosecutor in the trial of Mohammed Ajmal Kasab -- a Pakistani who is allegedly the only surviving gunman from the Mumbai attacks.
The attacks, which killed more than 170 people, strained relations
between the two rival nations. Pakistan has admitted the attacks were
planned, in part, on its territory but denies India's assertion that
Pakistani government agents were involved.
Earlier this month, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his
country would try to make peace with Pakistan, but that Islamabad
should first take "strong and effective" action against terrorism.
Mr. Singh commented following a summit in Russia, where he met with
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari for the first time since the
November Mumbai attacks.