National
Pak. must hand over wanted terrorists, says Advani
By Neena Vyas
NEW DELHI, JAN. 16. No doubt the bold statement with which the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, denounced theocracy and made a firm commitment to rid Pakistan of religious extremism has gone down well with the Government here, but it has also been stated plainly that only a concrete act of cooperation by Pakistan, like handing over the criminal terrorists wanted by India, could convince it that the General meant business.
The Home Minister, L.K. Advani, who has just returned from a five-day visit to the United States, today made it clear that the December 13 attack on Parliament was a ``watershed,'' a ``decisive moment'' and India was no longer prepared to go forward on the basis of nice words. He said the past experience had left the country sceptical and cynical of Pakistani intentions.
Sharing with the media his experiences during his visit to the U.S., Mr. Advani said that it had been a ``surprising'' and a ``gratifying'' experience to see that not only the top leaders of the Government in the U.S. but also some important members of `think tanks' ``could see that India's position after December 13 was justified and legitimate.'' Contrary to some apprehensions created by ``some people describing the Government stand as war-mongering'' he found that in the U.S. people, including those in the media, were understanding of India's views.
``Everyone I met said we can see your point of view,'' Mr. Advani said, pointing out that his one-point mission was trying to drive home the point about cross border terrorism from which India had been suffering for two decades - first in Punjab and then Jammu and Kashmir.
He disclosed that during his meeting with the U.S. President, George Bush, he was pleasantly surprised when Mr. Bush said to him: ``I am as angry as you about the attack on your Parliament.'' Contrary to earlier impressions that the Americans were not very appreciative of India's concerns in relation to problems with Pakistan, Mr. Advani met with ``little dissonance'' among media persons, experts with various think tanks, and senior government leaders.
The Centre is plainly admitting that General Musharraf's address to his nation on January 12 was ``path breaking'' in that no leader of Pakistan had earlier dared to cross swords with the mullahs and the religious clerics, no one had talked about the call of `jehad' having gone terribly wrong, but as Mr. Advani put it ``that was important and path breaking from the point of view of Pakistan's internal perspective.''
The bulk of the speech of the general had been addressed to correcting the wrongs of religious extremism at home, but ``what India looks forward to was the end of Pakistan as an exporter of terrorism.'' The proof of that would have to be seen in the ground situation, and when asked, Mr. Advani was not willing to say how long India would have to watch before declaring the results had been positive or negative.
He indicated that while such proof on the ground could take some time, Pakistan could immediately help establish its sincerity by handing over to India those wanted by it for terrorist acts here. Although Mr. Advani did not say as much, this seems to be the ``minimum'' price the country is pressing for, and it seems that is what India will be telling the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, when he begins his official visit here tomorrow.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
National
|
