The Hindu : Taliban, Al-Qaeda regrouping: Sinha

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 20, 2003

International

International

Taliban, Al-Qaeda regrouping: Sinha

By Vladimir Radyuhin

The External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, with the Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, in Moscow on Wednesday. — Photo: Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW FEB. 19. The External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, today voiced concern over Pakistan's subversive activities against Afghanistan and India. ``The forces which had once taken over Afghanistan might be defeated and dispersed, but they are still there,'' he said, during a meeting with the Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov. The situation in Afghanistan was still causing ``common concern'', Mr. Sinha added.

Mr. Sinha arrived here today on a three-day visit ahead of the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee's proposed meeting with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, during the coming celebrations of St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary in May.

In two interviews published today in Russian newspapers, Mr. Sinha said Pakistan was continuing its subversive activities against India and Afghanistan. ``We have information that Pakistan-backed Taliban and Al-Qaeda were regrouping and trying to fill the political vacuum in Pushtoon regions,'' Mr. Sinha told the daily, Vremya Novostei.

``If no measures are taken, Pakistan may again attempt to pursue its ambitious plans in Afghanistan, as it did in the early 1990s.''

In another interview to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Mr. Sinha said Pakistan ``is out to weaken and dismember India'' and ``has done precious little'' to stop cross-border terrorism and eliminate the terrorist infrastructure on its territory.

``India and Russia believe there can be no double standards in tackling the problem of terrorism.'' ``Dialogue (between India and Pakistan) can resume only after Pakistan stops relying on terrorism as an instrument of resolving international problems.''

At today's talks, Mr. Ivanov and Mr. Sinha described the Indo-Russian relations of strategic partnership as ``intense,'' ``dynamic'' and ``very special.''

``Relations between Russia and India have recently been growing at a very dynamic pace in all spheres,'' Mr. Ivanov said.

``We have practically identical views on the issues of global strategic stability, regional security and Afghanistan, and our cooperation on anti-terrorism, security and defence has been very close indeed.''

Mr. Sinha described India's relations with Russia as ``intense'' and ``very, very special,'' taking note of the ``cooperation in defence in terms of strategic partnership.''

He was confident that Indo-Russian cooperation on counter-terrorism would continue and ``grow even stronger'' in view of the terrorist threat faced by ``both our countries''.

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