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Pakistan back to its old ways: Pranab

NEW DELHI: Pointing out that terrorism emanating from Pakistan endangered the entire world, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday regretted that Islamabad had so far “demonstrated its earlier tendency to resort to a policy of denial and seek to deflect and shift blame and responsibility.”

“We expect the civilian government of Pakistan to take effective steps to deal with elements within Pakistan which still continue the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. We have so far acted with the utmost restraint and are hopeful that the international community will use its influence to urge the Pakistani government to take effective action. While we continue to persuade the international community and Pakistan, we are also clear that ultimately it is we who have to deal with this problem. We will take all measures necessary as we deem fit to deal with the situation,” Mr. Mukherjee told a two-day meeting of all heads of Indian missions which began here.

“We are not saying this just because we are affected but because we believe that it will be good for the entire world and also for the Pakistani people and society. This terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan is the greatest terrorist danger to the peace and security of the entire civilised world,” he said.

A meeting of this kind is the first since 1969 but different in scope and spread. While the first focussed on internal organisation issues, this one has been called in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks. In 1969, only 52 heads of missions (HoMs) attended. This time well over 100 HoMs are present. “This is a measure of how much India has changed,” observed a source.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the diplomats on Tuesday.

Mr. Mukherjee also touched upon the global financial crises and said the challenge for India was not only to emerge as unscathed as possible but to also create a situation in which its voice would be heard while reforming global institutions.