Envoy to Russia hits out at Pak.

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, OCT. 31. Without naming Pakistan, India's envoy to Moscow has denounced it as a ``major source of international terrorism'' and called for an international effort to isolate ``States sponsoring terrorism and engaging in cross-border terrorism.''

``A major base and source of international terrorism'' is located not only in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, but ``extends to and is closely linked with the neighbouring country which has become a large haven and nest of terrorists, harboured and nurtured by the Government of that country,'' Mr. K. Raghunath told a news conference here.

The envoy accused ``the neighbouring State'' of generating ``both the Taliban menace in Afghanistan, leading to the murderous acts of September 11, as well as the criminal acts of terrorism carried out over the years from across the border, inside India.''

``It is essential that Governments which habour terrorists, especially those which cold-bloodedly promote trans- border terrorism as an instrument of State policy, must be held wholly accountable,'' the Ambassador said. ``It is also essential that we... isolate those States which nurture this activity.''

This is the strongest yet public denunciation of Pakistan by any Indian official in Moscow. The attack is all the more significant since it comes four days before a visit here by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and moreover at a press conference devoted to the visit.

Noting that the September 11 attacks on the U.S. and the menace of trans-border terrorism were interconnected, the Indian envoy warned of ``longer-term consequences'' of engaging Pakistan in the anti-Taliban campaign in Afghanistan.

Unnerved by the U.S. policy of reinventing Islamabad as an ally, India is clearly counting on Russia to support it in its efforts to isolate Pakistan internationally as a sponsor of terrorism.

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