The Hindu : Front Page : We will talk about terror: Krishna

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Monday, Jul 06, 2009
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We will talk about terror: Krishna

ONBOARD SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: India is “very cautiously” and “responsibly” evaluating the conflicting signals emanating from Pakistan on punishing the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks and is waiting for its “visible and credible” steps against them, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said on Sunday.

Disapproving of the release of Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan, he said India had not received any official communication about the Pakistan government’s appeal in a higher court against his release.

“The brain behind the terror attack has been released. We have not heard about the Pakistan government going on appeal. So, in the light of that, conflicting signals are emanating from Pakistan,” he told PTI on his way back from his four-day trip to Japan. India had to “very cautiously and responsibly” evaluate these signals, he said.

Asked about the “credible action” India expected from Pakistan, he said: “Well, It is very simple. We want the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to be brought to justice. That is the only thing India is asking for and we are waiting.”

“I have repeatedly said it has to be visible and it has to be credible. There must be some commitment on the part of Pakistan that it is going after the Mumbai attackers,” he said.

Mr. Krishna said that if need be, he would meet his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Egypt later this month. India had never hesitated to hold talks with Pakistan at any level, he said.

On suggestions from the international community that India should talk to Pakistan, he said New Delhi had never said ‘no’ to talks with Islamabad.

“India has taken a very consistent position that we will talk. But we will talk about terror. We will discuss about terror. India is ever willing to talk about terror.”

On U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to New Delhi later this month, Mr. Krishna said he had spoken to the American leader and was looking forward to it. He would raise the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan with her.

Attacks on Indians

The safety of Indian students in Australia, who have been the target of frequent attacks, will figure prominently during Mr. Krishna’s upcoming visit to Canberra. “Certainly, the safety and well being of our students in Australia will figure at my talks with the Australian leadership,” Mr. Krishna told PTI.

This will be the first high-level visit from New Delhi to Canberra since the attacks on Indian students sparked public outrage in India. — PTI

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