Wednesday, July 12th, 2006
New Delhi - India Wednesday strongly objected to an attempt by Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri to link the terror attacks in Mumbai and Srinagar to the resolution of the Kashmir issue and asked Islamabad to join hands with New Delhi to defeat terrorism.
ââ¬ËWe find it appalling that Kasuri should seek to link this blatant and inhuman act of terror against men, women and children to the lack of so-called resolution of dispute between India and Pakistan,ââ¬â¢ external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna told reporters.
ââ¬ËHis remarks appear to suggest that Pakistan will cooperate with India against the scourge of cross-border terrorism and terrorist violence only if such so-called disputes are resolved,ââ¬â¢ Sarna stressed.
He was referring to remarks attributed to Kasuri in a section of the Pakistani media that quoted him as saying that the failure to resolve their disputes enabled ââ¬Ënegative forces in both countries to blame the other countryââ¬â¢.
ââ¬ËI think the Mumbai incident - however tragic it may be and it is undoubtedly very tragic - underlines the need for the two countries to work together to control this environment. But they can only do so if they resolve their disputes,ââ¬â¢ media reports quoted Kasuri saying.
India ââ¬Ërejectedââ¬â¢ this linkage and expressed hope that the Pakistan government will ââ¬Ëjoin hands with India to defeat the forces of terrorism, based on an ideology of extremism and violence.ââ¬â¢
ââ¬ËInternational community has to speak in one voice against terrorism. Pakistan should fully join the battle in isolating and eliminating terrorists,ââ¬â¢ Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma told IANS Wednesday, a day after the savage blasts ripped apart commuter trains in Mumbai killing nearly 180 persons and inuring hundreds.
In another set of blasts, eight tourists were killed in Srinagar.
ââ¬ËThe ultimate objective is to ensure that the region does not fall into eternal conflict due to terroristsââ¬â¢ designs,ââ¬â¢ an outraged Sharma said.
When asked whether he suspected the hand of terrorists operating from Pakistan to be behind the July 11 blasts, Sharma said: ââ¬ËWe have to first ascertain the identity of terrorists and then establish the source of their funding. There is a global network of militant organisations operating from the Pakistani territory.ââ¬â¢
ââ¬ËWhen credible evidence is given to Pakistan, we would expect Pakistan to deliver on their commitment,ââ¬â¢ he said, alluding to the blasts in Varanasi in March this year in which the suspectsââ¬â¢ connection was traced to militantsââ¬â¢ outfits operating from Pakistan.
The Indian government sent a strong message to Pakistan to dismantle terrorist camps that continue to operate on the Pakistani territory and reminded Islamabad of the Jan 6, 2004 joint statement in which Pakistan has committed not to allow its territory to be used for terror activities directed against New Delhi.
ââ¬ËWe would urge Pakistan to take urgent steps to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on the territory under its control, act resolutely against groups and individuals who are responsible for terrorist violence and fulfill its solemn commitment enshrined in the India-Pakistan joint statement of Jan 6, 2004,ââ¬â¢ the spokesperson said.
ââ¬ËWe are investigating the incident. We will provide the findings to you when they are available,ââ¬â¢ Sarna said when asked whether the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan had anything to do with the blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar.
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday condemned the Mumbai explosions.
ââ¬ËThis despicable act of terrorism has resulted in the loss of a large number of precious lives,ââ¬â¢ the Pakistani Foreign Office said in a statement.
http://indiaenews.com/2006-07/14618-pakistan-links-terror-attacks-kashmir-issue-india-objects.htm