India today described dreaded terrorist and Al Qaida founder Osama bin Laden's killing as a milestone. The External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Home Minister P. Chidambaram in their separate statements underlined New Delhi's concern about Pakistan being a sanctuary for terrorists. Mr. Krishna said the operation to kill the world's most wanted terrorist in Pakistan's Abbotabad brings to a closure an almost decade-long search for the head of the Al Qaeda. The Minister, noted that thousands of innocent lives had been lost to terrorism over the years and the world must not let down its united effort to overcome terrorism and eliminate the safe havens and sanctuaries that have been provided to terrorists in our own neighbourhood. He was alluding to the presence of several terror groups in Pakistan, like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which masterminded the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.In a similar statement, Home Minister Chidambaram said the US government had informed India that Bin Laden had been killed by security forces somewhere 'deep' inside Pakistan. He added that this fact underlines India's concern that terrorists belonging to different organisations find sanctuary in Pakistan which vindicates India's stand. In that context, Chidambaram raised the subject of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack plotters still being in Pakistan. He reiterated that the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack, including the controllers and handlers of the terrorists who actually carried out the attack, continue to be sheltered in Pakistan . Mr. Chidambaram called upon the government of Pakistan to arrest the persons whose names have been handed over to the interior minister of Pakistan as well as provide voice samples of certain persons who are suspected to be among the controllers and handlers of the terrorists The BJP demanded that Pakistan hand over to India the terrorists responsible for the 26/11 attacks. Party spokesman Ravi Shanker Prasad while referring to cricket diplomacy with Pakistan said cricket ball and terrorist bombs cannot co-exist together. He added that Osama, the founder of the Al Qaeda, was the most dangerous face of terrorism and needed to be punished for his evil ideology and his elimination sends the right signal.