US tight-lipped about India's demand of fugitives

The White House has declined to comment on India's demand that Pakistan should hand over twenty fugitives as a sign of good faith in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Mumbai and has left the issue for discussion during Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to New Delhi.

"I saw reports about it, but I will not comment on it and let Rice do the talking. Let her try to work out on issues. I don't want to get in front of anything she's working on," Secretary of Press Dana Perino said On Board Air Force One.

Perino also refused to answer queries on whether intelligence related issues will be high on agenda during Rice's visit.

"I will not talk about our intelligence agencies and their cooperation with any other country. It would not be appropriate for me to do so," Perino replied.

Speaking on the meetings of Rice in New Delhi, Perino said the top Bush administration official will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"She'll hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and I am sure Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will also be there. Beyond that, I don't have any information about who else she is going to meet."

Refusing to comment on the Secretary of State's plans to visit Islamabad, Perino said, "It depends on the State Department plans to change travel schedule or announce anything later. I'll just leave it to them."

"I think she's only scheduled to go to New Delhi when in India and has no plans to go to Mumbai," she said.