Islamabad awaits response to 30-point poser

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Saturday said it would take the next step in its probe into the Mumbai terror attacks after receiving India's response to its questions seeking more information about the horrendous act of terror. Talking to newspersons here, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan had given India as many as 30 queries along with its response to Indian dossier on Mumbai attacks. He said, "Pakistan is waiting for Indian response and will take the next step in the light of the information to be provided by India." He also added Pakistan was proceeding with caution on the issue of Mumbai attacks and it had offered its complete support to India in investigations into the gory incident. He further said Pakistani government was treating the issue of Mumbai attacks very seriously, adding, "Our effort is to get to the bottom of the matter." Answering a query, the Foreign Minister said he would not attend the forthcoming meeting of the SAARC Ministerial Conference in Colombo, as its schedule clashed with that of his visit to United States for meetings with the US leaders on anti-terrorism policy review. However, he added the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Secretary would represent Pakistan at the SAARC meeting. To another question, he said Pakistan had decided in principle to open its mission in Iraq. Foreign Minister Qureshi said Pakistan would apprise the Obama administration of its position on countering terrorism during the policy review meetings to be held in Washington next week. "It will be very useful meeting to review six-year US policy towards Pakistan and Afghanistan and hold discussions on the policy review aimed at formulating fresh approaches to the problems and challenges facing the South Asian region," he said. He said the US administration wanted to finalise the review of anti-terror policy before the NATO summit being held on April 2 and 3 so that new and effective policy could be shaped with the input from Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said Pakistan would take into confidence the international community on Swat deal. He added Pakistan would make efforts to remove the apprehensions of the world community on the Swat deal. On media reports about US drone attacks taking place from Pakistan's own soil, he said the United States had issued clarification in that regard that was self-explanatory.

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