Stop sponsoring terror: PM to Pak

Only obstacle to normalising relations is Islamabads use of terror as state policy

Winding up his trip to Pittsburgh for the G20 summit, he talked tough ahead of the Indo-Pak Foreign Ministers’ meeting scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Sunday.

“India’s message is that India seeks to normalise its relations with Pakistan. But the only obstacle is that Pakistan should give up its old attitude regarding the use of terror as an instrument of state policy,” Singh told a press conference here.

India wanted Pakistan to act against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks last November. “We have supplied our material and evidence for them to carry out investigations. Although the tragedy took place in India, the conspiracy took place in Pakistan. Pakistan has admitted to this. We want them to bring to book the culprits involved in the November 26 attacks,” he said. Singh, who turned 77 on Saturday, looked relaxed despite his hectic schedule as he responded to a volley of questions ranging from the impact of the UN Security Council resolution on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, the global response to the economic crisis and climate change.

The prime minister asserted that there was no change in India’s stand on Pakistan since the Sharm-el-Sheikh talks in July with his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, a position he had affirmed in Parliament.

Singh recalled his statement that India would move the extra mile to normalise relations with Pakistan provided it took proper action on the terror issue.

His comments came ahead of Sunday’s meeting between Foreign Minister S M Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi during which Pakistan’s action against terror emanating from its soil will be reviewed. Before the ministerial meet, Foreign Secretaries Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir will hold discussions on the issue.
Singh said India and Pakistan are neighbours and they have an obligation to move as neighbours. On how he looked forward to moving ahead with the relations with Pakistan after the Sharm-el-Sheikh episode, Singh said, “If you read my statements in Parliament, I have explained the Government’s position and I think there is no change on this.”
Asked about the Security Council Council resolution asking all non-NPT signatories to join the treaty as non-nuclear weapon states, Singh said President Obama had assured him that the move was not directed against India.