Pakistan has ruled out the possibility of handing over to India any of its nationals linked to Mumbai terror attacks and made it clear that such persons would be brought to justice within Pakistan.

Asked about warrants issued for the arrest of 22 Pakistanis by a special court in Mumbai, Interior Minister Rehman Malik made it clear that Pakistan would not hand over "any individual to India" simply on the basis of such warrants.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Amad Khan too has said, "no Pakistani national would be handed over" to India. He said Pakistan would bring people involved in the Mumbai attacks "to justice but in our own country" provided India gave more evidence on the terror strikes.

The comments by the two ministers came in the wake of a court in Mumbai issuing warrants on Tuesday for the arrest of 22 Pakistanis in connection with the terrorist attacks.

Asked about the warrants issued by the special court in Mumbai, Interior Minister Malik said Pakistan would not hand over "any individual to India" on the basis of the warrants.

"Yes, there are international obligations. However, the government would decide if any request is sent by Interpol," he told a news conference in parliament yesterday.

"We have told the international community that the world must recognise Pakistan and must deal with us at par with India," he added.

Malik said the government will "carefully examine" any request received from Interpol as Pakistan is ready to cooperate with India in probing the Mumbai attacks.

... contd.