Pak stalled UK in 1984 murder of Indian envoy
Three suspects in the February 1984 murder of Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre had fled to Pakistan but Islamabad repeatedly denied their presence or cited difficulties in tracing them to British authorities seeking their extradition, newly declassified files show.
Posted in India’s consulate in Birmingham, Mhatre, 48, was kidnapped by elements owing allegiance to a Kashmir-based militant group on February 3 and body was found in nearby Leicestershire two days later.
Three people were convicted and jailed in Britain.
Documents released by Britain’s national archives reveal that the West Midlands police had provided locations of the three suspects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, but officials in Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs stonewalled United Kingdom’s efforts to apprehend them.
In August 1984, Britain requested the Pakistan government, then headed by Gen Zia-ul-Haq, to initiate extradition proceedings against the three.
The documents state that the government agreed to the request “should it be established that the accused are in Pakistan”.
DOCUMENTS RELEASED BY BRITAIN’S NATIONAL ACRCHIVES REVEAL THE WEST MIDLANDS POLICE HAD PROVIDED LOCATIONS OF THREE SUSPECTS IN PAKISTANOCCUPIED KASHMIR (POK)
British ambassador Richard Fyjis-Walker wrote to the foreign office on January 17, 1985: “(Pakistan’s additional foreign secretary for European affairs) Dr Haider told me today that President Zia has accepted the MFA’s recommendation that extradition proceedings should be started.