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“Attacks linked to Pakistan outfits”

CHENNAI: “There is clear evidence that the attacks in Mumbai have links in organisations in Pakistan and we have been urging the Pakistan government to take effective and appropriate measures to deal with this,” British High Commissioner Richard Stagg has said.

He was talking to journalists on the sidelines of a school visit here on Friday. Asked if an advisory was issued to citizens in the wake of the terror attacks, Sir Richard said: “We have made clear that India is a country where there are terror attacks…citizens who come here for business or pleasure should have a successful visit and go home satisfied.”

Immediately after the attacks, citizens were advised against going to Mumbai (the Maharashtra government had also advised so), unless they had an essential piece of business to do.

They were informed of the real risk that existed and the decision to travel was left to their own judgement.

Sir Richard met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to know his views on the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka. “He has expressed some quite strong public views about the issue.”

He said he would like to know how Mr. Karunanidhi viewed the security situation after the “ghastly” Mumbai attacks.

“I would also like to hear about the economic development in Tamil Nadu, which has been very impressive in recent years, and [also about] how he hopes to manage the impact of the global economic turbulence in this State.”

The United Kingdom had an overall view that India was likely to cruise through and prosper against the economic crisis over time.

“I want to ask him what he plans to do…Tamil Nadu’s abilities and how he plans to respond to the crisis and adapt to lessons from the crisis.”

On the England cricket team’s current tour, he said: “Personally, I’m very delighted that the England cricket team is here in Chennai. It would have been an unfortunate signal if they were unable to come due to security concerns.”

Sir Richard lauded the team for its decision to donate half of its match fee from the first Test to the victims of the terror attacks in Mumbai.

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