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Waiting for 'visible action' by Pakistan: Jaswant
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, JAN. 15. After welcoming the announcement of the President, Pervez Musharraf, on banning Islamic extremist outfits and promises of ending cross-border terrorism, India today indicated that it was awaiting ``visible'' action by Pakistan to curb terrorism.
``It is only three days that President Musharraf had announced certain steps in this regard. It is not sufficient time to assess the situation,'' the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, told presspersons after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The meeting lasted for well over an hour and reviewed the overall security scenario.
The CCS meeting assumes significance as it took place on the eve of the Defence Minister, George Fernandes' scheduled visit to the U.S. even as the Home Minister, L.K. Advani, returned today after a six-day visit to the U.S. and briefed the CCS meeting about his sojourn there.
Mr. Singh said that India expected Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism and prevent infiltration of militants into India.
``We also want action on the list of 20 terrorists and criminals wanted here,'' he said.
Asked about the decision to send Parliamentary delegations to various countries to mobilise international opinion in support of India's fight against terrorism, Mr. Singh said: ``The delegation of MPs will go ... and those who do not want to go will not go.''
On the coming visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, he said that Gen. Powell was coming to the capital on the way to Tokyo for the conference on reconstruction of Afghanistan. ``As I am preoccupied and will not be able to go to Tokyo, Gen. Powell will hold consultations with me on Afghanistan, Pakistan and also discuss the announcements made by President Musharraf on curbing terrorism.''
According to Mr. Singh, the Home Minister told the CCS meeting that there was ``no dissonance'' of views on the issue of terrorism between India and the political leadership in the U.S.
On his return from the U.S., Mr. Advani told reporters: ``I conveyed India's concerns and I feel the U.S. leadership understands them.'' He said that Washington ``did not contest even a word of what New Delhi stated.''
He explained to the U.S. leadership that the attack on the Parliament House on December 13 was a ``turning point'' in shaping India's response in definite terms to tackle terrorism.
Steps `legitimate'
He said the U.S. establishment felt that India's strong steps after the December 13 terror strike were ``legitimate''. The steps were ``not disputed'' by anyone. In his perception, Mr. Advani said, the U.S. establishment also felt that India's steps were ``serious'' and if Indo-Pak. conflict was to be averted India's views could not be disregarded.
Keeping up the flurry of diplomatic activity , Mr. Fernandes was leaving here tonight on a six-day official visit to Washington.
Mr. Fernandes who is heading an eight-member high- level delegation has said that in his talks with top U.S. officials, the increased military-to-military relationships between the two countries would figure prominently.
Maintaining that he was not going to Washington with a shopping list, Mr. Fernandes said at a press conference here on Monday that New Delhi had submitted a detailed list of defence purchases and hoped that their procurement would be speeded up.
Besides Mr. Fernandes, the delegation would include the Defence Secretary, Yogendera Narain, the Additional Secretary, Ajay Prasad, and other officials.
PTI reports:
India is waiting for ``concrete action'' on the ground by Pakistan on its President's promises which included steps to end cross-border terrorism, an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson told reporters.
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