New Delhi, Feb 28: As India continues to push
Pakistan to eliminate terrorism, External Affairs Minister
Pranab Mukherjee has said he believes President Asif Ali
Zardari is sincere about ending the menace but underlined that
his desire should be backed by actions by Islamabad.
"I would like to say that I believe in his sincerity
because he himself is a victim of the terror attack. His wife,
one of the tall leaders of the subcontinent fell victim to the
senseless brutal terror attack," Mukherjee said.
"I believe he (Zardari) has desire to fight against
terrorism," he said in an interview to a TV news channel, while describing the Pakistan President as a "nice
man" and a "gentleman".
At the same time, he added "my belief is not adequate.
It must be backed by action taken by the government and
authorities of Pakistan".
Mukherjee, who described Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf
Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also as
gentlemen, made it clear that "it is not a question of
individual personalities."
Underlining that the incumbent government of Pakistan
has the "responsibility" to act, he said "When we talk, we
talk of the incumbent government."
Mukherjee, however, refused to comment on the system of
Pakistan, saying "it is for them to address this issue."
Pressing for tough action by Pakistan to end
cross-border terrorism, the External Affairs Minister said,
"Onus is on Pakistani authorities to dismantle the
infrastructure facilities available to the terrorists, to
bring to justice the perpetrators of terror and to cooperate
with India in achieving this objective."
He maintained that India`s focus was at present on the
issue of how terrorism is tackled by Pakistan rather than on
ways to improve bilateral relations.
"Relations between India and Pakistan is not the pointed
issue at this point of time. Pointed issue is how to fight
terrorism. It is not the question of improving bilateral
relationship. Bilateral relations are there. People to people
contact is still there," he said.
Mukherjee also rejected the contention of British
Foreign Secretary David Miliband that India had raised the
"temperature" in ties with Pakistan.
"We have never raised the temperature. This is the
phrase I think the British Foreign Secretary used and I do not
think that..no I have not raised the temperature," he said.
Pointing out that India has not stopped the
communication line with Pakistan, Mukherjee said "But what we
want? We want that the perpetrators are brought to justice."
Mukherjee emphasised that infrastructure available to
the terrorists in Pakistan should be dismantled and Pakistan
authorities must fulfil this commitment.
He said it has been made clear even to the US that
India`s desire to see end to terrorism should not be seen in
the context of Indo-Pak ties.
"The issue is not relationship between India and
Pakistan. The issue is how to fight terrorism, how to
dismantle infrastructure facilities available on Pakistani
territory with the Pakistani elements who use these and attack
India. How to bring the terrorists to justice. These are the
issues. Not the India Pakistan relationship," he said.
He said there was no reason for the US not to
understand this view.
He refused to comment on former Pakistan Foreign
Minister Khurshid Mehmoood Kasuri`s claim that India and
Pakistan were close to solving Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek
issues through back-channel talks.
"You know what takes place in back channel, we do never
discuss in public. Otherwise there is no need of having any
back channel at all. I cannot comment on what former Foreign
Minister of Pakistan Kasuri said. It is not our practice to
make any comment, any observation on outcome of back channel,"
he said.
Bureau Report
