India to press Pak for concrete action on terror

NEW DELHI: In the first high level contact with the new democratic dispensation in Islamabad later this week, India will press for concrete action by Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism in the backdrop of renewed infiltration bids and terror attacks. During the talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday, the Indian side will make it clear that it is keen to take its relations with Pakistan forward but that the atmosphere of peace was essential for the dialogue process to succeed. A day ahead of the Foreign Ministerial meeting, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon will hold talks with his counterpart Salman Bashir. Besides terrorism, the two sides will discuss Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and various confidence building measures at the talks while reviewing the fourth round of composite dialogue after a "pause" in the dialogue process. "The dialogue process has contributed so meaningfully to the improvement of relations over last four years. India is ready to carry the process forward," Menon told reporters here ahead of the talks. He said India was ready to address all issues with Pakistan, including Jammu and Kashmir, through talks but noted that atmosphere of peace is essential for the success of the dialogue process. Official sources said India is looking for concrete action by Pakistan in ending cross-border terrorism and infiltration, which have witnessed an increase recently. The infiltration level had gone down for a while but it has witnessed a rise again recently and India will raise this issue at the talks with Pakistan.
Recalling the commitment given by President Pervez Musharraf in January 6, 2004 joint statement not to allow any territory under Pakistan to be used for terrorism against India, the sources said Islamabad has to be seen doing it on the ground. India believes terrorism is a "common concern" for both the countries and that it is in the interest of Pakistan itself to clamp down on the scourge as it has lost former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to terrorism. New Delhi, however, is clear that terror incidents in India will not stop the peace and dialogue process with Islamabad. Citing the case of Jaipur serial blasts regarding which there is no clarity yet as to who is responsible, India says it understands that the terror strike was carried out to "derail" the Indo-Pak peace process. "Such elements, whoever they are, should not be given a chance to succeed in their designs by stopping the dialogue process whenever a terror incident takes place," the sources said. Ready to pick up the threads of talks from where these were left during the Musharraf regime, India will be looking for the new dispensation's ideas on Kashmir and other issues. The Indian side will have "positive" and "open" mind while going for the talks, the sources said. Referring to various statements given by the leaders of the new Pakistan dispensation, including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PPP leader Asif Zardari, New Delhi points out that there have been "good" as well as "bad" remarks. "At the talks, we will see what exactly the new government has in mind," the sources said.
New Delhi notes that the relations between the two countries have witnessed a lot of improvement during the last four years when India was dealing with the Musharraf regime. The cross-Line of Control initiatives particularly have witnessed a lot of forward movement and a further push is likely to be given during the upcoming talks. The issue of pardon for Sarabjit Singh, who is facing gallows in Pakistan for his alleged involvement in 1990 Lahore bomb blasts, will also be raised by the Indian side while seeking expeditious release of all its nationals lodged in jails in that country. New Delhi also wants Islamabad to hand over Dawood Ibrahim, who has been labelled as international terrorist by the UN, and would furnish proof of his presence in Pakistan if the matter comes up at the upcoming talks. Proof of Dawood's presence in Pakistan has already been given to Islamabad bilaterally as well as through Interpol but India is yet to get his custody because of the neighbouring country being in denial mode. During the two-day stay in Pakistan, Mukherjee is also likely to meet Musharraf, Gilani, Zardari and PML(N) leader Nawaz Sharif.