New Delhi: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani may take up with Washington the issue of Pakistan handing over 20 terrorists and criminals sought by India during his visit to the United States beginning June 8.

Advani had told US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, when he was in Delhi recently, that he was unable to understand why Islamabad was hesitant in returning those 20 terrorists and criminals, the list of whom was submitted to Pakistan long ago, sources said.

They said Armitage was told by Advani that when Pakistan could hand over 500 al-Qaida men to the United States, it should as well send back the 20 men wanted by India.

The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to meet top US leaders there during his visit and tell them that the world has noted that the change in Washington's attitude towards terrorism was because of the September 11 strikes.

The people in India have the same feeling after the December 13 terrorist attack on Indian Parliament what the Americans had after the September 11 strikes, he would convey.

The sources said that Pakistan is continuing to encourage cross-border terrorism against India as part of strategy to keep its own people "satisfied" on the one hand and on the other make concessions to the United States by taking action against Taleban to keep Washington on its side in Indo-Pakistan Affairs, on the other.

Advani is likely to convey to the US leaders that Pakistan must convince the international community that it has put an end to cross-border terrorism.

PTI