Date:28/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/28/stories/2008122855570800.htm

National

Pranab urges Pakistan not to divert attention

Indrani Dutta

KOLKATA: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday urged Pakistan not to engage in diversionary tactics by creating fresh tension on another front.

Addressing an international seminar and a teachers conference in Berhampore in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on Saturday, he said: “I appeal to Pakistan and Pakistani leaders not to engage in any attempts to digress from the main issue and divert attention from the main problem.”

“The issue is how to prevent terrorism, there is no point in trying to deviate from the main issue. The problem will have to be tackled and that cannot be done if issues are diverted,” Mr. Mukherjee said.

It should be the responsibility of every national in the world to tackle terrorism on an international scale and skirting issues will not help. He said that the scale and the magnitude of the Mumbai terror attacks showed that it was not only planned but well planned.

“Terror has no religion”

Mr.Mukherjee said that Islam was about generosity. He urged all to abandon efforts to misinterpret Islam.

“Terrorism has no religion, it is not linked to a particular religion or community. Attempts to misinterpret religion should be abandoned,” he said.

Later speaking to the media, he reiterated his position saying “One has to face problems and tackle them head-on , evading issues will not solve them. No problem can be tackled by trying to suppress the main issue, please do not try to tension on another front,” he urged Pakistan.