New Delhi, July (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that India has been asking Pakistan to hand over 42 fugitives, including Dawood Ibrahim, but Islamabad is reluctant to cooperate.

Replying to a question in the Upper House of Parliament, Krishna said a list of 42 fugitives of both Indian and Pakistani origins, has been given to Islamabad.

The list of fugitives also includes the names of those wanted for their alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts and the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, Krishna said.

Krishna informed the House that Pakistan’s refrain is that, whatever evidences provided in the dossiers is not enough to be proven in court of law.

Pakistan has denied the presence of dreaded criminals like Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon, Chota Shakeel and Lakhbir Singh in its land who are among the Indian nationals mentioned in the list, Krishna said.

Krishna informed the house that for the extradition of Pakistani nationals, Islamabad has pointed out lack of extradition treaty between both the countries. Krishna added that India has tried eleven times to conclude an extradition treaty with Pakistan, but none of the attempts were fruitful.

“We have been impressing upon Pakistan that it is in the interest of both countries that we enter into a treaty of extradition, and New Delhi is endeavoring to persuade Pakistan to develop a cooperative relationship with India, ” Krishna Said.

Krishna assured members that in spite of Pakistan’s reluctance to improve relations, India’s endeavor would be to continue to impress upon Pakistan to have good neighborly relations. (ANI)