Date:10/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/10/stories/2009011059121200.htm

National

We can’t accuse Pakistan agencies without proof: U.S.

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: While maintaining that it would work “non-stop” to bring the masterminds of the Mumbai terror attack to justice, the U.S. has not concurred with India’s formulation of official Pakistani agencies having given a helping hand to the attackers.

Speaking at a farewell luncheon for him organised by Confederation of India Industry here on Friday, U.S. Ambassador to India David Mulford sought to differentiate the American stand from the one articulated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram of some Pakistani agencies having quarterbacked the attack in view of its sophistication.

“I don’t think we want to take the view that we make accusations against certain parties without the usual evidences or proofs. There is a new government in Pakistan which we support. So does India. We are seeking to assist it in carrying out its obligations,” Mr. Mulford said in response to questions, including whether the U.S. agreed with India’s suspicion of Pakistani agencies’ involvement in the terror attacks and if Islamabad was capable of taking on terrorist organisations.

However, the U.S. was one with India on the issue of bringing to book the perpetrators of the terror strikes, especially because six American citizens were among those killed. It was also convinced that the strikes had shown there was a “problem” in Pakistan.

“The U.S. has its own law. When Americans are killed anywhere, we pursue those people and that is what we are up to in Pakistan. We will press ahead and we will do it non-stop as long as it takes,” said Mr. Mulford.

“Like India, we have a common agenda — we want to see Pakistan succeed, not fail, not become a serious problem, not become a failed state. That is the American agenda. But the situation in Afghanistan has complicated that agenda where the U.S. is pursuing its national interests.” The U.S. Ambassador had earlier reposed faith in the dossier presented by India, terming it “credible” since “a lot of that was prepared with assistance from the FBI. The U.S. doesn’t compile stuff which is not credible.”

Asked whether the possibility of implementing a letter of intent (LoI) by India on providing the U.S. an opportunity to set up nuclear plants with a generating capacity of 10,000 MW appeared bleak, Mr. Mulford put faith in the LoI and said Washington expected it to be honoured and fulfilled. At the same time, Mr. Mulford said that unlike the Russian and French companies, U.S. companies were waiting for India to resolve the issue of limited liability in case of an accident. The U.S. was expecting India to join the convention on supplementary compensation in order to resolve the issue.