Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told the Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari that firm action needs to be taken against anti-India terrorism originating from Pakistan to allow forward movement in the bilateral relationship.
Making a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha on Mr. Zardari's visit and his meeting with Dr. Singh here on April 8, External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna said it was made clear to Pakistan that India's concerns on terrorism had to be addressed if the people of the country are to support and sustain progress in bilateral relations.
Dr. Singh referred to public activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Mr. Zardari said the matter needed to be discussed further, Mr Krishna said.
Giving details of the 40-minute meeting between the two leaders on April 8, Mr. Krishna said both felt that “we need to move forward step-by-step and find pragmatic and mutually- acceptable solutions’’ to issues like Sir Creek, Siachen and Kashmir. They noted that there had been a steady progress in bilateral dialogue process which resumed last year and that it would continue as planned in the months to come, he said.
Dr. Singh and Mr. Zardari also discussed terrorism and the Prime Minister told the Pakistan President that "there is need to take firm action to curb terrorism to enable us to make forward movement in the bilateral relationship," Mr. Krishna said.
Mr. Krishna said Dr. Singh had conveyed to Mr. Zardari that "it was imperative to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack to justice and prevent activities aimed against India from Pakistani soil. In this context, he also mentioned the activities of Hafiz Saeed carried out in public.
"It would be evident that our concerns on terrorism had to be addressed if the people of India are to support and sustain progress in bilateral relations," he said.
Mr. Zardari referred to judicial processes against Saeed and said the matter needed to be discussed further between the two governments, the External Affairs Minister said, adding it was noted that Home Secretaries are due to meet shortly and they would be discussing it further.
Zardari invites Manmohan
He said that during the meeting, Mr. Zardari invited the Prime Minister to visit Pakistan which was accepted with "pleasure" and that diplomatic channels would be used to work out mutually-acceptable dates and substantive preparations for that visit.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party sought to know why the Prime Minister was not making the statement on Mr. Zardari's visit and questioned his "continued and persistent absence" from the House.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation of the fact that Pakistan has moved forward on trade-related issues and both the leaders felt that the two countries should tap the considerable potential of bilateral economic and trade ties for progress and prosperity of the two peoples.
Discussing developments in the region, the two leaders agreed to use the potential of regional cooperation for economic development of people of both countries, Mr. Krishna said.
"It was clear from the conversation that both countries consider the dialogue process and the improvement of bilateral relations as being in the mutual interest of the people of India and Pakistan," the Minister said.
The two leaders felt that priority needed to be given to issues of people-to-people contacts and in this context, they decided that a liberalised visa agreement which has been worked out should be signed during the next meeting of Home/Interior Secretaries, he said.
Keywords: Zardari India visit, India-Pakistan relations
Because of all Terrorism exported by india that Pakistan have to fight
inside its borders the RAW terrorists in disguise of TTP BLA ANP MQM
etc. and still its government wants to have peace dialogue with india.
The nation knows very well that hindu the old enemy of Muslims will
never back off from stabbing from behind in the moment of shaking hands
for so called aman ki asha.
In order to really solidify India-Pakistan relations under the incumbent scenario, we should not only release convicted terrorists Mohd Afzal and Ajmal Kasab but also appoint them as ministers in the J&K and Central govts respectively. This apart, we should clearly tell Pakistan that we will never take any action against terrorists sponsored by it. We have already done our bit to promote our relations with Pakistan by not implementing any measures from the counter-terrorism doctrine to date. Terrorists are crossing the LOC on a daily basis, which too is a good sign in bettering relations. Mera Bharat Mahan!
Even if India tries to for get past terrorist attacks by ISI-Let, what is the surety that it will not happen again?
Our army intelligence and other intelligence agencies are repeatedly reporting that 14 terrorist training camps are still working and there has been no letup in these activities, inspite of repeated appeals to Pakistan authorites.
How is this situation compatible with Pakistan's reconciliatory statement of promoting friendship with India?
How does Pakistan hope to creat trust between the two countries?
If at all, pakistan wants to promote friendship with India in trade relations, It has to show some action on the ground. Only verbal expressions do not mean anything.
Yes, terrorism must be stopped. But lets probe into the matter. Where is the
terrorism coming from? India has the habit of blaming ISI for everything, is ISI bringing the terrorism?
If we look at the region, India has actually backed more terrorism than Pakistan.
Look at the situation in Pakistan and look at India. If Pakistan was ever to back
insurgency movements in India, I assure you some parts of India would have
become independent states right now.But look at the terrorism that India is
backing in Pakistan. Many commanders and "imams of Masjids" of Tehreek e
Taliban have turned out to be RAW, Hindu commanders and have been caught with
Indian flags. The BLA leaders are backed by India on the dialogue table and on the
arms table. Indians are backing the Asian Tigers who are causing unrest in Punjab.
Lets also look back in history. Forgot Tamil Tigers? Forgot 1947, Babri Masjid, Sikh
Massacres?
So Pakistan too should ask India to stop backing terrorism.
Pakistan will ask for evidence that Hafiz Saeed was involved. Nobody in
Pakistan asked for evidence against Osama Bin Laden, or the hundreds
shot down by drones in FATA, but they want concrete evidence for
terrorists who attack India.
What appears to be happening at the moment is a slow and steady movement towards
normalcy between India and Pakistan.
The positive improvement is at least in part due to the realisation on the part of
Pakistan that US has no strategic interests in Pakistan.
US has achieved its targets in Afghanistan. US supported Afghan government is
standing on its legs, and US has decided not to walk away after 2014. India has been
offered a major role in Afghanistan, and the current Afghan government is sensitive to
Pakistani ambitions as well.
India now has excellent relationships with China, USA, Iran and Afghanistan, and the
religious fanatics are proving a liability to politicians in Pakistan. Pakistanis want food,
education, health facilities, housing, and the same is true for Indians.
The westerners have realised the folly of maintaining Pakistan on free handouts, and a
prosperous progressive India, can be a counter weight to chinese.
Pakistan, India, and world would benefit from peace
"it was imperative to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack to justice and prevent activities aimed against India from Pakistani soil". We have Kasab living comfortably in Mumbai Prison. First up, decide on his fate and then we can talk about bringing other perpetrators to justice.
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