Washington: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says he does not know whom to deal with in Pakistan noting that the Army was the most powerful force in that country and that it was virtually wielding power.
"I think the most element force in Pakistan is the Army... We have to recognise that the power today virtually rests with the Army...I do not think whether we have a partner right now," he said, adding, "I do not know whom to deal with."
Singh also accused Pakistan of not doing enough to bring to book the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks observing that a "friendly" government there would be equally determined to tackle terrorism and take the case to its logical conclusion. "That is not happening," he said.
"No, they (Pakistan) have not done enough," Singh told CNN in an interview taken in New Delhi and aired minutes before the Prime Minister arrived in Washington on the first State Visit of the Obama Administration.
Asked if he believed the Pakistani Army was serious in tackling terrorists, Singh said he is not certain if the military will take on those elements.
"There is democracy. We would like democracy to succeed and flourish in Pakistan, but we have to recognise that the power today virtually rests with the Army," he said.
The Prime Minister said he does not think that India has a partner in Pakistan today.
"I do not think whether we have a partner right now. I think, when General Pervez Musharraf (was the President) I was to ask him and he said well I am the Army, I represent the armed forces, I represent the people. Now I do not know whom to deal with," he said.
- PTI
First Published: Monday, November 23, 2009, 18:29