Pakistan today contended that it wanted custody of Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist held during the Mumbai attacks, because of legal requirements and hoped that India would respond positively to its request for handing him over.
"That is a legal requirement... India is currently examining our request and we hope that they will get back with a positive response," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters here when asked why his country has demanded handing over of Kasab.
Kasab, a Pakistani-national, was among 10 terrorists who struck in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. While nine of the attackers were killed, Kasab was caught during the gun-fight.
He is currently undergoing trial in Mumbai and the court will give verdict on May 3.
India has already indicated that it was not possible to hand him over as the legal processes against him were going on in the country.
On the possibility of meeting between prime minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, Basit said there was "confusion" in India.
"As our foreign minister has said time has come for India to make up its mind as to what kind of engagement it wants. It seems there is some confusion," the Pakistani spokesman said.
He said, "India has to make up its mind because there are serious issues involved and this confusion will give advantage to forces which are against (normal relations) between the two countries".
He added, "this (proposed) meeting was part of our roadmap which was given to India in New York by our foreign minister (Shah Mahmood Qureshi) to Indian External Affairs Minister (SM Krishna) and then again by our foreign secretary (Salman Bashir) to Indian Foreign Secretary (Nirupama Rao) on
February 25 in New Delhi.
Queried about Pakistan's stand when a meeting between the prime ministers takes place, Basit said both the countries have realised that there has to be a meaningful and constructive dialogue.
"... our Prime Minister's effort will be to start such an engagement so that all the issues of terrorism and others are solved".
Asked whether Krishna and Qureshi had a meeting here on sidelines of SAARC foreign ministers' meeting, he said they did shake hands but there was no formal meeting between them.
"No formal or informal meeting happened," he insisted when asked if there was an informal interaction.
On the arrest of an Indian diplomat posted in Islamabad on charges of spying for ISI, the Pakistan foreign office spokesperson dubbed it as an "internal matter" about which his government has not been told anything officially.
He said the incident would have no bearing on Saarc activities.
