The Hindu : National : Evidence of Pakistan's role strong: Narayanan

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Sunday, Jul 30, 2006

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Evidence of Pakistan's role strong: Narayanan

As and when we are ready with all facts and evidence, we will do it, he tells Richard Boucher

New Delhi: Objecting to certain comments by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher after the Mumbai bomb blasts, India said the evidence with it about Pakistan's role in cross-border terrorism was "stronger" than what Washington had after the September 11 attacks.

National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan said Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashker-e-Taiba had international influence and it was important for the U.S. to understand its "ramifications."

"Mr Boucher did not talk to anyone of us. [But] he has made a statement," he told Karan Thapar on the `Devil's Advocate' programme on CNN-IBN when referred to the U.S. official's remarks suggesting India had no evidence to blame Pakistan for the Mumbai blasts that killed 200 people and injured more than 700 people.

"If he [Boucher] wished to have information, we are willing to talk to whoever is wanting to know the facts. He has not fallen into that category as of now," Mr. Narayanan said.

Boucher had said nobody had clinching evidence to pinpoint the perpetrators of the wave of the Mumbai attacks.

"The evidence ... as far as who they were, who was responsible — I don't think we have seen a lot yet ... I think we need to be led by the evidence before we start trying to draw conclusions and make policy pronouncements on it," the U.S. official had said.

Mr. Narayanan said the government had proof of how terrorism was controlled from Pakistan and in this regard mentioned the arrest of two foreign nationals in the aftermath of the Mumbai blasts.

"As and when we are ready with all facts and evidence, we will do it," he said when asked whether the government will furnish proof about Pakistani linkage to terrorism.

Contending LeT was an integral part of Al-Qaeda and in "some parts even bigger," Narayanan said the Pakistan-based terror outfit had linkages in many countries including Europe and Asia. "LeT is an integral part of Al Qaeda but sometimes it becomes even bigger because of its contacts. We have not come across their involvement in the U.S. but in Europe and Asia, they are very active."

"LeT has many connections ... So the U.S. has to pay special attention and not treat it as India-only issue," he said, hoping that New Delhi would be able to convince Washington in this regard. — PTI

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