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Israel offers support in fight against terrorism
By Atul Aneja
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel, Shimon Peres, calling on the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, in New Delhi on Tuesday.- Photo: Rajeev Bhatt
NEW DELHI, JAN. 8. Israel today offered full support to India in its fight against terrorism but hoped that an Indo-Pak conflict would be avoided and a dialogue resumed.
At a press conference this evening, the visiting Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, said his country would be on the Indian side ``in the fight against terrorists in every possible way''. But while combating terrorism, India could explore the possibility of a dialogue with Pakistan.
In an interview to a television channel, Mr. Peres said India and Pakistan must exercise the ``highest degree of consideration'' as they were nuclear powers. At the press conference, he hoped that a war between the countries would be avoided. ``A great victory lies in preventing a war.'' He, however, added that India decides on ``war and peace by itself''.
Mr. Peres also hoped that Pakistan - now a partner in the global campaign against terrorism - would make sure that it did not harbour terrorists on its soil. India would naturally like to be convinced that there were no terrorists in Pakistani territory.
Analysts here see a similarity in the formulation espoused by Mr. Peres and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who just concluded a visit to the subcontinent. Both advocated a termination of terrorist violence as the basis for the resumption of dialogue. Israel's views carry considerable weight as it has emerged as one of India's key defence suppliers in the last few years. Mr. Peres declined to elaborate on a possible deal with India on the Phalcon early warning aircraft. ``I will not go into the details. The purpose (of the visit) was to create political opportunities.''
He indicated that the United States was unlikely to obstruct the deal as contrary to the widely-held view, the radar was not of U.S. origin. While the U.S. had funded the Phalcon's Greenpine radar, the system had been developed by Israel. Washington, therefore, did not have a locus standi to block the deal. Secondly, India's close ties with the U.S. would also discourage Washington from denying hi-tech equipment. Moreover, the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, was scheduled to visit Washington, after the Home Minister, L.K. Advani, concluded his visit, Mr. Peres said.
India, Israel and the U.S. were the prominent victims of terrorism, Mr. Peres said. He described the December 13 attack as a strike against democratic institutions worldwide.
With India emerging as a leading player in the coalition against terrorism, it should be included in an expanded NATO, Mr. Peres said.Mr. Peres today called on the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, and the Defence Minister, George Fernandes. He also met the former Prime Ministers, P.V. Narasimha Rao and I.K. Gujral.
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