India and the United States on Tuesday urged Pakistan to eliminate all safe havens for terrorists in its territory.
Visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed out that in today's world, the use of violence as a tool was “a dead-end…when it comes to pursuing any kind of political or ideological aims.”
“In democracies like ours, people should be in the market place of ideas. If they have views, they should put them to the test of the debate, the dialogue and the political process,” she told journalists along with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.
While Mr. Krishna did not mention Pakistan more than once, Ms. Clinton was more eloquent. She said Islamabad needed to ensure that its territory was not used as a launch pad for terror attacks anywhere, including inside Pakistan, because terrorists killed more than 30,000 Pakistanis. “So, it is very much about the people of Pakistan and their right to go to a market, or go to a mosque, to live their lives.”
Calling for stronger, more concerted efforts by governments and societies, she termed terrorism a losing tactic. “But we have to prevent as much death and destruction as possible as we uproot and destroy these groups and convince those whom they recruit that that is no longer a decision that should be made.”
As for terror groups still operating out of Pakistan, she said the U.S. was going after those who posed direct threats to the country and its main theatre of operations: Afghanistan.
“We are also cooperating closely with India regarding the threats that emanate against them. The 166 people killed in Mumbai included six Americans. So, we have offered a reward that could lead to the arrest or conviction of Hafiz Saeed [Jama'at-ud-Da'wah leader] for his role in those attacks. Our Rewards for Justice [programme]… demonstrates our seriousness in obtaining additional information that can withstand judicial scrutiny, and that leads to arrest or conviction and brings the perpetrators and the planners of the Mumbai attacks to justice,” she said.
Mr. Krishna listed the steps India and the U.S. had taken to combat terrorism: growing intelligence exchanges and cooperation; the setting up of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism; the Counter Terrorism Cooperation Initiative; and the Homeland Security Dialogue.
