Front Page

Onus on Pakistan as we can’t chase non-state actors: India

Photo: V. Sudershan

INFLUENCING FACTOR: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Friday. The Saudi Minister said terrorism was an evil and cancer, and should be cut out and destroyed completely. —

NEW DELHI: India has urged three of Pakistan’s closest allies – the United States, China and Saudi Arabia – to pressure Islamabad into taking “concrete and transparent” action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks.

In conversations with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jeichi and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee expressed dissatisfaction over the token action taken by Pakistan.

Mr. Mukherjee spoke to Ms. Rice and Mr. Yang on the phone and met the visiting Saudi Minister to review the developments since the Mumbai attacks. He insisted on the world community ensuring visible action by Islamabad in view of the United Nation’s resolution against some Pakistan-based terror outfits and their masterminds if it is to be recognised as a responsible nation.

It was pointed out that the onus was squarely on Pakistan as India could not be expected to chase non-state actors in some other country.

Both Ms. Rice and Mr. Yang are said to have told Mr. Mukherjee that they wanted the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks brought to justice. They assured him that they were engaged with Pakistan on taking concrete steps to ensure that unimpeded planning, logistics and financial assistance from the Pakistani soil are choked off to those executing terror attacks in India.

The two wanted India and Pakistan to continue with their probes into the Mumbai attacks and coordinate with each other on the information available.

India highlighted its policy of restraint and maturity in dealing with Islamabad to the three countries but expressed exasperation over Pakistan’s response so far to its calls for handing over those responsible for crimes in its territory and ensuring that the terror infrastructure is dismantled for good.

New Delhi argued that the Lashkar-e-Taiba had developed close linkages with al-Qaida and embraced its ideology of global jehad.

The Saudi Minister told journalists that terrorism was an “evil” and “cancer,” which should be “cut out” and “destroyed completely” to prevent tragedies like Mumbai happening again.

Mr. Mukherjee said: “It was agreed that global terrorism has to be dealt with by joint action among all countries. We further agreed that whatever action has to be taken to control terrorism, should be taken without delay and in a transparent manner.”

Related Links: