The Hindu : We too can create trouble, PM tells Pak.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2002

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We too can create trouble, PM tells Pak.

VARANASI, FEB. 19. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today bluntly told Pakistan that India could also create ``internal trouble'' in that country but ``this is not our policy, not our style.'' He was addressing a public meeting here on the last day of campaigning for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll.

Declaring that there will be no compromise in fighting terrorism, he said there was no truth in Pakistan's claim that it was not supporting terrorism in India.

``The Pakistan President says his country is part of the international campaign against terrorism but his policy as regards India is different,'' Mr. Vajpayee said.

Asserting that Islamabad was ``in the dock'' on the issue of terrorism, he asked as to who attacked Parliament and who was behind the recent massacre of Hindus in Jammu.

``Is Pakistan not challenging India (by sponsoring terrorism)? We are ready to face the challenge,'' he said.

Ruling out talks with Pakistan till it stopped cross- border terrorism and killing of innocents, Mr. Vajpayee said India was not against dialogue but ``if talks are going to end in an attack on us, then what is the use of such an exercise.'' He asked Pakistan why it was dilly-dallying on handing over the 20 terrorists wanted by India if it was not supporting terrorism.

The Prime Minister said the world did not accept terrorism in Afghanistan and similarly India too would not tolerate terrorism from across the border.

``India is firm in its resolve to deal with the activities of the anti-national elements in the country,'' he said.

Asserting that India wanted peace with honour by upholding its national interest, he said the other side also has an equal responsibility in this regard.

- PTI

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