JOIN USPak terror bases not acceptable: Sarkozy
Drawing a parallel between the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the 9/11 World Trade Centre bombing, Sarkozy praised India for showing “remarkable restraint” after the Mumbai attacks and emphasised that world could not accept terrorism originating from Pakistan.
Accompanied by his wife, Carla Bruni, Sarkozy was speaking at a commemoration function at Oberoi-Trident hotel in South Mumbai on the last leg of his four-day India visit.
"We know the price Pakistanis are paying for terrorism but it is not acceptable for the world that terrorist attacks originate from (there) or (terrorists) are trained in Pakistan," the French president said at the Oberoi, which was one of the seven targets of 26/11 attacks. “I count on Pakistan authorities to show that they are resolute in combating terrorism," Sarkozy said.
"I want to tell you that we will never forget and will be with India so that justice is rendered. The Mumbai attack proved one more time that terrorism is nothing but criminal activity. It pretends to act for political or religious objectives, but it is just savagery. It pretends to serve ideals but it injures them through its acts," Sarkozy said in French.
Praising India’s response in the aftermath of Mumbai attacks, Sarkozy said, "The Indian prime minister has shown remarkable restraint following the attack and is continuing the dialogue with Pakistan and has tenaciously created the politics of dialogue, which France supports.”
Terrorists from Pakistan had sneaked into Mumbai on November 26, 2008 and went on a killing spree, leaving at least 166 people dead, including foreigners, two of them French citizens.
Earlier, Sarkozy went to the Police Memorial on Marine Drive, which is dedicated to police officers and men killed in action during the attack, and paid homage to the martyrs.Later, at the Oberoi function, he honoured Karambir Kang of Taj Hotel and Devendra Bharma of Trident-Oberoi with ‘Insignia of Officer of Ordre National du Merite' for their efforts in saving lives during 26/11 attacks
Seeking global cooperation for combating terrorism, Sarkozy said efforts should be made not only for protection from the terror attacks but also find a way to prevent their repetition. "It is not acceptable for Afghanistan and our troops in Afghanistan that Taliban and Al Qaida should find refuge in the frontier zones of Pakistan," he added.
Sarkozy said France values its relations with Pakistan. "A Pakistan which is democratic, stable and prosperous, is in the interest of this region and the world," he said.
"France itself has been menaced and blackmailed by Islamist terrorists to whom it will not give in and France has intensified its efforts to eradicate terrorism," he added.