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We will talk about terror: Krishna
‘No communication on appeal against Saeed’s release’
New Delhi had never said ‘no’ to talks with Islamabad
ONBOARD SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: India is “very cautiously” and “responsibly” evaluating the conflicting signals emanating from Pakistan on punishing the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks and is waiting for its “visible and credible” steps against them, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said on Sunday.
Disapproving of the release of Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Hafeez Saeed in Pakistan, he said India had not received any official communication about the Pakistan government’s appeal in a higher court against his release.
“The brain behind the terror attack has been released. We have not heard about the Pakistan government going on appeal. So, in the light of that, conflicting signals are emanating from Pakistan,” he told PTI on his way back from his four-day trip to Japan. India had to “very cautiously and responsibly” evaluate these signals, he said.
Asked about the “credible action” India expected from Pakistan, he said: “Well, It is very simple. We want the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to be brought to justice. That is the only thing India is asking for and we are waiting.”
It has to be visible“I have repeatedly said it has to be visible and it has to be credible. There must be some commitment on the part of Pakistan that it is going after the Mumbai attackers,” he said.
Mr. Krishna said that if need be, he would meet his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Egypt later this month. India had never hesitated to hold talks with Pakistan at any level, he said.
“I don’t think that some of the other developments, parallel developments that have taken place in Pakistan will add credibility to its desire for the composite dialogue to move forward.”
On suggestions from the international community that India should talk to Pakistan, he said New Delhi had never said ‘no’ to talks with Islamabad.
“India has taken a very consistent position that we will talk. But we will talk about terror. We will discuss about terror. India is ever willing to talk about terror.”
On U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to New Delhi later this month, Mr. Krishna said he had spoken to the American leader and was looking forward to it. He would raise the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan with her.
Asked whether he would convey India’s unhappiness over Pakistan’s inaction to Ms. Clinton, he said the two sides would “look at” terror during discussions.
“We will be looking at terror per se, because terror has become one of the hottest topics of discussions with Foreign Ministers. So, while dealing with terror, Pakistan assumes importance.”
The Minister did not agree with the projection by Pakistan about Kashmir being the key issue between India and Pakistan. “I do not know whether I would agree with the projection that Kashmir is the key issue. India has its own issues. We are not unwilling to talk to Pakistan on Kashmir.” “It is part and parcel of the composite dialogue, which has already been agreed upon. So we are willing to talk on anything with Pakistan.”
As for the relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement, he said it had a very important global role to play, with particular reference to South-South cooperation. “I refuse to believe that the NAM has become irrelevant.” — PTI
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