Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: In an uncompromising tone, the US has warned Pakistan not to use insurgents as strategic tool and asked Islamabad to bring 26/11 suspects to justice.
The United States has asked it to shed its policy of "using insurgents" like LeT as a strategic tool and warned that if it cannot deliver against terrorists, the US may be impelled to use "any means" at its disposal.
The message, which has been conveyed in a letter from US President Barack Obama to his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, also includes an offer by him to try to "reduce tensions" between India and Pakistan, media reported here.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer ruled out mediation in relations between India and Pakistan saying that its "pace and character" will be determined by the two countries and not by any "outside interest".
"The US believes that bilateral relations between Pakistan and India will determine the pace and character and not by us or any outside interest or any other country," US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer said.
The remarks came in the backdrop of repeated calls by Pakistan to the US to use its influence with India to press for resumption of the stalled composite dialogue process.
It was for India and Pakistan to resolve issues, whatever they are-- border or any other, he said.
To a question, he said the US feels "very strongly" that the seven suspects arrested by Pakistan for their involvement in 26/11 terror attacks should be convicted and prosecuted.
Briefing reporters about some of the talking points between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the recent visit of Singh, he said "they had a very fruitful exchange of thoughts about working together to make sure that Pakistan effectively prosecutes the seven suspects caught.
"..That is something the US feels very strongly about
and that they will pursue these seven suspects (prosecution)",
he said.
On Obama`s letter to his Pakistani counterpart Asif
Ali Zardari reportedly asking that country to shed its policy
of "using insurgents" like LeT as a strategic tool, the
Ambassador refused to give details saying it was for the
President to talk about it.
It is up to the President "what he says when it
becomes public, if it becomes public", Roemer said on the
reported letter written to Zardari.
According to the reports in the US, Obama has conveyed
a stern message to Zardari and warned if it cannot deliver
against terrorists, the US may be impelled to use "any means"
at its disposal.
Noting that a peaceful and stable Pakistan was not
only in India`s interest but also in the interest of the
world, Roemer said both Obama and Singh talked extensively
about the situation in Pakistan and they talked about choking
feeder routes to terror and safe haven wherever they may be.
On FBI team`s visit to India next week, the Ambassador
said post-Mumbai attacks, "the agency continues to develop
trust and confidence with the Indian government".
They are "not only testifying but bringing a lot of
expertise forward and tracking information, DNA that was very
useful to India," he said.
Talking about Counter-Terrorism MoU signed during
Singh`s visit, he said the "blood thirsty" terrorists are not
a threat to the region alone but for the world as whole.
Describing Singh`s visit as "watershed moment" in the
US-India relationship, he said "it was a meeting of the minds,
literally and figuratively, reflecting not only the bold
potential of our global partnership but also underlining the
strength and depth of the unique people-to-people ties that
fuel this defining partnership for the 21st century."
Roemer’s statement came after it was revealed that US National Security Adviser General (retd) James Jones hand-delivered a two-page letter from US President Barack Obama to his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari.
The letter also offers Pakistan enhancement of strategic partnership if they act as wished by the US, besides additional military and economic aid.
Obama has also warned Pakistan that its use of insurgent groups for policy goals "cannot continue" and called for closer collaboration against all extremist groups.
He named five such groups – al Qaeda, the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Tehrik-e-Taliban.
Jones did some straight-talking with the top Pakistani leadership, the daily said. "If Pakistan cannot deliver, he warned, the US may be impelled to use any means at its disposal to rout insurgents based along Pakistan`s western and southern borders with Afghanistan."
On Headley, Rana
Roemer, meanwhile, said that the FBI will visit India to share information on two men being held in Chicago for alleged links to last year`s Mumbai attacks.
India claims David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, both in US custody, were associated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit, blamed for the deadly attacks in India`s financial capital which left 166 people dead.
The FBI continues to develop trust with the Indian government, the US envoy added.
On Indo-US ties
The US envoy said that Dr Singh and Obama have inked a Memorandum of Understanding to bring New Delhi and Washington closer.
He further said that the US will help India in coastal security.
On Kashmir
Roemer has described Kashmir as the bilateral issue, which is to be solved between India and Pakistan only.
