The Hindu : Deliver on assurances to end cross-border terrorism: BJP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 12, 2002

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Deliver on assurances to end cross-border terrorism: BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 11. There was no question of withdrawing troops from the border till India was reasonably sure that the terrorist network in Pakistan had been dismantled, the Bharatiya Janata Party said today even as it welcomed the first step taken by India towards normalising relations by removing restrictions on overflights by civilian Pakistani aircraft.

In a statement issued by the foreign affairs committee of the party and released by party general secretary, Maya Singh, the BJP indicated that "further measures to normalise relations will be taken'' if the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, delivers on assurances to end cross-border terrorism.

The party also recommended caution to the Government, saying "we will have to watch the situation for some time before we can be sure Gen. Musharraf means business.''

It welcomed the Government's calibrated response to the situation and said it hoped that soon the relations between India and Pakistan would be normalised and the two could get down to the business of improving and strengthening bilateral interaction in all fields.

The BJP's statement was not without a sting in the tail. It said that the past history of broken promises did not inspire confidence.

The Tashkent Declaration of 1966 was ignored by Pakistan, the Shimla Agreement was never implemented and the Lahore Accord was promptly consigned to the dustbin. Even after Gen. Musharraf made his historic speech this January 12, it took him no time to go back on all that he had said — he released all the `jehadis' he had arrested.

The Government should "not be in a hurry to resume normal diplomatic interaction'' with Pakistan, the BJP said. It should give Pakistan enough time to demonstrate its promised resolve to move away from terrorism as an instrument of State policy.

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