20000117

Pakistan rejects latest Indian charge on hijacking

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday rejected the latest Indian accusation of involvement in the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane last month as baseless.

India on Saturday called in the Pakistani envoy to New Delhi and told him that Pakistan had a legal obligation to arrest the hijackers and their accomplices and extradite them to India.

"The Indian demarche had repeated the now familiar baseless allegations which have been already dismissed by Pakistan and the international community," said a statement issued by Pakistan's Foreign Office.

"Given that a large number of terrorists whose release was sought by the hijackers are Pakistani nationals and the first destination chosen by the hijackers was Lahore, there were strong grounds for believing that the hijackers were currently in Pakistan," India's Foreign Office spokesman said on Saturday.

"The Pakistani High Commissioner was also informed that the Government of India reserved the right to take further measures as appropriate," the spokesman said without elaborating.

Pakistan said the charge was the latest in a string of false allegations.

"India continues to make allegations, which are unfounded, and not supported by even a shred of credible evidence.

"This is part of a vain attempt to malign Pakistan. The Indian purpose is to deflect domestic criticism of the government's mishandling of the hijacking incident," the Pakistan statement said.

The hijackers have not been seen since they handed over the hostages in return for three mujahideen freed from Indian jails.

The hijackers, who apparently wore masks the whole time, were driven away with the mujahideen from Kandahar airport.-Reuters