The Hindu : Pakistan not reciprocating adequately: Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 06, 2003

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Pakistan not reciprocating adequately: Advani

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI DEC. 5. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, said today that Pakistan was not reciprocating adequately India's recent initiatives to improve ties between the two countries and that it was yet to put an end to cross-border terrorism.

Inaugurating the ninth International Security, Safety and Fire Exhibition-2003 organised by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) here, Mr. Advani said: "Pakistan continues to encourage terrorists operating from across the border."

Referring to Pakistan's recent declaration of ceasefire along the Line of Control and allowing overflight facility to Indian aircraft from January next, Mr. Advani said although it had taken some tactical steps to improve ties under pressure from the international community, it should do more to match New Delhi's initiatives. He said that despite India's repeated demands to clamp down on terrorist organisations operating from across the border and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, Pakistan had not done enough. "This is having its impact. The entire world feels that resources of the two countries should be spent for the welfare of the people and not on security matters.''

Praising the CISF for providing scientific security solutions, he said the exhibition was aimed at creating awareness among the general public and industries. "I am indeed happy that the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation and the CISF are working in close co-ordination towards generating security consciousness and awareness of security technology which is the need of the day in the wake of increasing threat perception in the country," he said.

Mr. Advani said earlier security was, more or less, the concern of State agencies or organisations. "But today, the scenario has changed completely. It is now the concern of every Indian. India's most important concern at present is cross-border terrorism and unlike most other countries it does not require a 9/11 to catalyse our security apparatus for tackling this menace," he said, adding that as terrorism had gone global, it was imperative for security agencies to be on constant vigil.

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