National
MPs' team to focus on three key issues
By Our Special Correspondnet
NEW DELHI, JAN. 22. Cutting across party lines, key members of Parliament are heading for various world capitals to explain India's viewpoint during the on-going stand-off with Pakistan after the terrorist attack on Parliament House.
The Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, R.M. Abhayankar, said the MPs would focus on three key issues during their discussions. The visits become especially important after the recent televised address of Pakistan President, Pervez Mushrarraf.
The MPs are expected to explain to their hosts that India's actions are strictly within the ambit of fighting international terrorism and need not be seen within the Indo-Pakistan bilateral framework. Countries in the Maghreb region such as Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt that have themselves faced terrorism may find it easier to respond to India's standpoint. The MPs are likely to point out that terrorism in any form cannot be justified and the U.N. Security Council resolution 1373 demands that all countries root out extremism from their soil.
Second, the lawmakers are likely to express the tremendous ``feeling '' that the attack on Parliament has generated in India.
Third, the parliamentarians are likely to engage their interlocutors on the content of Gen. Musharraf's speech. While welcoming some of the assertions made by him, the MPs will point out that the test of Pakistan President's address will lie in its implementation. India will not be taken in by statements alone, but will evaluate the General's views on the basis of action taken on the ground.
According to Mr. Abhayankar, P.A. Sangma will on Wednesday lead a delegation to the Brussels. In conveying India's concerns, the Indian side is expected to urge the European Parliamentarians consider banning organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad on account of their involvement in the December 13 attack.
The Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Najma Heptullah, on Thursday will lead a team to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Sudan. The visit assumes importance on account of the Saudi influence among Sunnis in the Islamic world.
Another delegation will visit the current chairman of the Gulf Cooperation (GCC), Oman as well as Qatar that presently heads the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).
Yet another team will head for South Africa - the present chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement and Senegal that has an influence over the Francophone African countries that are part of the OIC.
Former Minister of State for External Affairs, R.L. Bhatia, will lead a delegation on Egypt, Jordan and Syria while BJP spokesman V.K. Malhotra will take MPs to Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. The Government is planning to send a delegation by the month-end to Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei as well.
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