Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010355691000.htm

National

Jaitley: continue pressuring Pakistan

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: Pakistan must not be allowed to go scot free. It must be made to realise there is a huge cost involved in allowing its soil to be used for heinous terrorist activities, Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Arun Jaitley said here on Friday.

While it was for the government of India to decide what action it should take, his view was that all kinds of diplomatic pressure can be applied: all sporting ties must be severed; no visas should be given; air road and rail links must be snapped; and all other bilateral ties must be ended.

Above all, Pakistan must be made to realise it would have to pay a huge cost for supporting or encouraging any kind of terrorist activity targeting India from territory under its control. His view was that India must continue to pressure Pakistan to hand over individuals involved in terrorist crimes here. The truth was staring Pakistan in its face that the world was accepting the reality of Pakistani involvement in the Mumbai terror attack. Continuing to deny this reality would only legitimise any and every step that India might decide to take.