Arrest of hijackers difficult with no details available: FO

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Pakistan Monday said arrest of the hijackers of the Indian plane would be difficult as the Indian government has so far given no details as to the profiles of the hijackers.

"In the absence of such details, it would be difficult to apprehend the culprits if they enter Pakistan by an unauthorized route," Foreign Office spokesman said.

"Nevertheless, our authorities will maintain strict vigilance and make utmost efforts to arrest and investigate persons who look suspicious," the spokesman said in a statement.

The government, he said, issued immediate instructions to all immigration checkpoints in the provinces of Balochistan and NWFP on December 31 when the hijacking ended, to arrest persons bearing the names of hijackers announced by the Indian government if they sought entry into Pakistan. "To the best of our information, such an assumption is unwarranted".

Pakistan, he said, is cognizant of its obligations under the ICAO conventions saying that due action will be taken in case the hijackers come into its custody. He said without a shred of evidence, the Indian External Affairs Minister has made a new allegation against Pakistan.

He said earlier the Indian Airlines published the list of passengers aboarded the hijacked plane. It did not include any Pakistan nationals. The baseless allegation now can only expose Indias prejudice and malevolence not to mention ingratitude for the cooperation of authorities extended throughout the hijacking crisis.

"We did everything possible to ensure the safety of the hostages aboard the hijacked plane during its unwelcome stay at Lahore airport. Jaswant Singh expressed gratitude to our Foreign Minister".

The spokesman said the Indian officials reportedly conducted the negotiations through specialized communication equipment, which they had flown to Kandahar. "If the officials obtained some particulars about the hijackers, these have not been disclosed to facilitate identification. No one else listened to the dialogue between the Indians and the hijackers".

He said the Indian Minister did not desist even from attributing a false statement to the Information Minister of Afghanistan. The latter has clarified that he did not say that the hijackers had left Afghanistan for Quetta in Pakistan.