Advani talks tough

Advani talks tough
Agencies/New York

Home Minister L K Advani wrapped up a path-breaking six-day trip to the US on Sunday, making it clear that New Delhi would not tolerate any more Pakistan's support to terrorism against India.

Reacting with skepticism to President Pervez Musharraf's announcements, Mr Advani said the General should turn into ground reality his pledge to fight terrorism and stop infiltration of militants into India.

"We shall not judge any change in Pakistan's policy on terrorism only on the basis of the statements and pronouncements of its leaders. India shall be satisfied only if categorical renunciation of terrorism as a state policy is accompanied by a decisive and demonstrable action on the ground in response to specific demands that we have made of Pakistan," Mr Advani said here on Saturday.

Warning that mere speeches would not do, he said there is so much skepticism among the people of India on the promises made by Pakistani leaders that only action, which makes the real difference, is acceptable.

"I am told that in his speech, General Musharraf has said that terrorism cannot be a part of the Kashmir cause... If he has said it, then it becomes all the more imperative that he should not facilitate or allow any one to cross the Line of Control(LoC) or the international border to commit acts of terrorism," Mr Advani maintained.

Asserting that India would not tolerate Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism any more and allow itself to be bled by it, he said, "Pakistan should withhold any assistance to terrorists, including funding, arming, training and stop infiltrating them into India."

Mr Advani said Pakistan needs to meet the Indian demand that it hand over 20 terrorists whose list has been given to Islamabad.

To a query, he said India has already given evidence about them and in fact Interpol had issued a red corner notice against several of them, which is not something done easily, adding that none at Washington has asked him for more evidence.

He emphasised that India would have to fight its own battle while seeking international support against the state-sponsored terrorism.

At a Press Conference on Saturday at India's chancery here, he said: "I return to India with the satisfaction of having accomplished" all three goals of his mission."

Mr Advani, the first Indian Home Minister to visit the US, had been invited by Attorney General John Ashcroft.

He said one of the aims of his US trip was to express solidarity with the American people and Government in their ongoing struggle against terrorism in the wake of the September attacks in New York and Washington.

Mr Advani said India had decided that following the Parliament attack on December 13, "India's response to this continuing proxy war waged by Pakistan will not be the same as before.

"We have taken several diplomatic and political initiatives in the past one month to demonstrate this change in our response. I have told our friends in America that we sincerely hope that these initiatives, combined with the concerns of the international community over cross-border terrorism in India, will make Pakistan abandon its present dangerous path. The US can play an important role in the matter."

He emphasised that India would have to fight its own battle while seeking international support against state-sponsored terrorism.

Addressing the investors meeting organised by India-America Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (USA), Mr Advani said Pakistan is not indulging in terrorism out of strength but due to its weakness.

"After it suffered three decisive defeats at the hands of Indian forces, it realised that it is no match for India and just cannot fight an open war. So, it decided to fight through a "proxy" war by funding, training and infiltrating terrorists into India," he added.

Satisfied with the outcome of his US visit, Mr Advani was returning with a "sense of reassurance borne out of the convergence on thinking and resolve of the "two great democracies" on stamping out international terrorism.

"President George W Bush's unambiguous assertion that no distinction can be made between good terrorists and bad terrorists powerfully rebuffs those who describe cross-border terrorism in J&K as a legitimate freedom struggle," he said.