Support for Pakistani expulsions

The Indian Deputy Prime Minister, LK Advani, has strongly supported the official campaign to deport thousands of Pakistanis living illegally in India.

Speaking at an internal security conference in Delhi, Mr Advani said immediate steps should be taken to identify illegal residents, locate them and expel them.

The deportation drive was announced last month.

State governments had been ordered to locate and arrest around 11,000 people from Pakistan -- most of whom had overstayed their visas.

The move was launched in response to recent attacks by militants, which India has often blamed on Pakistani nationals.