New Delhi/Chandigarh: India on Saturday said it
has repeatedly tried to have peace with Pakistan but the "dark
forces" of terror operating there openly have consistently
undermined these efforts.
Justifying the recent Foreign Secretary-level meeting,
India said talks with Pakistan will have to be kept going so
that concerns related to terrorism could be addressed and
peace and stability maintained.
"For peaceful relations with Pakistan, we have
repeatedly taken initiatives to try and peacefully resolve our
outstanding problems. Sadly, the dark forces of terrorism have
consistently undermined our efforts," Minister of State for
External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said in New Delhi.
Pointing out that terrorists were still finding
"shelters" in Pakistan, he said New Delhi has asked Islamabad
to bring the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to justice and
dismantle the terror infrastructure there.
"Terror activities and call for jihads have continued to
emanate openly from Pakistan," he said at a function and
warned that these very forces could adversely impact
Pakistan's own safety and security.
In Chandigarh, Minister of State for External Affairs
Preneet Kaur said talks with Pakistan were necessary to convey
India's concerns on terrorism emanating from that country.
"We have to keep our talks (with Pakistan) going on as
only then concerns related to terrorism and steps required for
maintaining peace and stability can be taken," she told a
press conference.
India wants "smooth understanding" with its neighbours as
peace in the region is in mutual interest, Kaur said.
Asked whether parleys would continue despite terror
attacks from across the border, she said India has started
talks on "minimal level" while being firm on the issue of
terror.
"We stand absolutely firm on our stand against terrorism
from across the border.... We will continue to mount pressure
on Pakistan," the minister said.
"We want them to take concrete actions and at the same
time I think, the talks are necessary," she said.
Acknowledging that Pakistan has taken a few steps
against the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, she said
India wants it to go further.
In an apparent message to Pakistan, Tharoor said no
distinction should be made between different Taliban outfits
which hurt Pakistan and groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba which act
against India as they are the same.
"Some people are trying to make a distinction between
Pakistan Taliban, Afghan Taliban and LeT and other militant
groups but they are all several sides of a same phenomenon,"
he said.
On recent attacks on Indians in Afghanistan, Kaur said
India was concerned over the development, but at the same time
was committed to build infrastructure in the country as "such
incidents can't change our stand in helping Afghanistan".
Tharoor said that in any future process for establishing
peace in Afghanistan, "only those groups should be involved
which have given up violence and arms."
PTI
First Published: Saturday, March 13, 2010, 21:09