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`Handing over criminals will prove sincerity'
By Neena Vyas
NEW DELHI, JAN. 16. India will judge Pakistan's sincerity in wanting to end cross-border terrorism based on the latter's decision to hand over the 20 men wanted in connection with acts of terrorism here, the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, said today. He, however, could not give a definite timeframe for Islamabad to act.
Addressing a press meet, Mr. Advani said the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's address was no doubt ``path-breaking'' from the point of that country's ``internal perspective,'' but what New Delhi looked forward to was ``the end of Islamabad's role as an exporter of terrorism.'' An ``immediate proof'' of the General's sincerity would be available if Pakistan handed over the wanted criminals, he said.
``The bottomline is that Pakistan has to abandon terrorism as an instrument of state policy; put an end to funding of terrorists, arming them, training them and finally giving them a safe asylum after they commit acts of terrorism,'' he said.
`De-escalation after concrete Pak. steps'
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, JAN. 16. On the eve of the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, India has ruled out third-party mediation and said Pakistan must take ``concrete steps'' to ensure de-escalation of tensions along the border.
Asked about the prospects of resuming dialogue with Pakistan, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson reiterated in her daily briefing that India had never shied away from talks. The onus was on Pakistan to create a conducive atmosphere for starting a dialogue. She declined comment on whether India was considering the de-escalation of forces prior to the commencement of a dialogue with Pakistan. Her observations assume importance as Islamabad _ especially after the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's televised address last Saturday _ is insisting on a pullback of Indian forces from the border.
Asked about the U.S. offer of help to bring the two sides together if they agree, the spokesperson asserted that ``outstanding issues between India and Pakistan must be discussed bilaterally and directly by the two countries. There is really no room for third-party mediation.'' Gen. Powell, who arrived in Islamabad today, will also hold discussions with the Indian leadership here on a wide range of issues, including reduction of Indo-Pak. tensions.
To a question, the spokesperson said U.S. diplomatic activism in the sub-continent did not amount to mediation. As two mature democracies, both sides were listening to each other but were entitled to their views.
Gen. Powell had welcomed India's response to Gen. Musharraf's address and described it as ``measured and positive.'' He had also underscored the need for Pakistan to take further action on the ground for improving the situation.
Asked whether India was delinking the arrest of the four Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in the capital on Tuesday and their connections in Pakistan, she said investigations were under way. ``These have to be completed before we come to any conclusion.'' On the 20 terrorists and criminals who had taken shelter in Pakistan and were wanted here, she said Islamabad had information on their whereabouts.
Soon after his arrival, Gen. Powell will hold talks with the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh. His call on the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and a meeting with the National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, is slated for Friday. At the end of his visit, Gen. Powell will leave for Kathmandu on his way to Tokyo to attend the meeting of Afghanistan's donor countries.
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