The Indian Government today reiterated its resolve to bring the perpetrators of Samjhauta Express attack to book and expressed hope that the Pakistani authorities would extend necessary help in the probe.

“We are determined to investigate the blasts and bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice”, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said. “We hope that the authorities in Pakistan will extend all cooperation in the investigations, whenever required, in the interest of identifying and punishing the guilty,” he added.

Earlier in the day, seven Pakistani nationals injured in the blast were airlifted to their country. A special Pakistan Air Force flight C-130 flew in, with a medical team, to take the injured home.

The remaining three injured Pakistanis have preferred to go to Panipat and will return via Wagah.

So far, 33 out of 68 dead have been identified. As many as 27 bodies are those of Pakistani nationals. Of these, 21 have been handed over to the relatives, the MEA spokesperson said and added that the government was providing “all assistance to the relatives of the victims from Pakistan to come to India.”

The special visa camps that have been set up by the High Commission of India in Islamabad and Lahore are still working. The Haryana and Punjab Government is facilitating the relatives of the victims who have approached it.

Meanwhile, India today slammed Pakistan Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s tirade against New Delhi’s alleged non-cooperative attitude in providing details of the victims of the Samjhauta Express blast, saying he should get in “touch with his foreign office”.

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