The Hindu : Front Page : Terrorism a challenge for both India and Pakistan: Manmohan

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Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008
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Terrorism a challenge for both India and Pakistan: Manmohan

Harish Khare

Welcomes advent of democracy in Pakistan; peace can be brought about, he says

ON BOARD THE SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: A day before his scheduled meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh felt that the task before the leaders of the two country was to convert challenges (of disputes) into opportunities (of cooperation).

The Prime Minister was interacting with the media, en route from Frankfurt to New York to attend the General Assembly.

Asked what his message would be to President Zardari, the Prime Minister replied that “Indo-Pakistan ties are about challenges that we have to meet, and convert them into opportunities.”

“Peace can be brought about between India and Pakistan, we can work together,” he said about the possibility of relationship with President Zardari.

Welcoming the “advent of democracy” in Pakistan, the Prime Minister said cross-border terrorism was “one of the challenges” the two leaders and the two countries had to meet.

Pressed whether he would bring up with President Zardari the question of attack on the Indian mission in Kabul, the Prime Minister said he would share the information on the subject (with the media) after his meeting.

Asked if the American military strikes deep inside Pakistani territory were leading to “destabilisation in South Asia,” he confessed that it was a “very unusual situation and we are studying it.”

To a question whether the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls would be held as per schedule, he said it was a decision for the Election Commission to take. Asked whether a political judgment was needed to be made if the time was right for elections, Dr. Singh wryly noted: “Is it ever a right time for elections?”

As to whether he himself was contemplating contesting the next Lok Sabha poll, the Prime Minister said he would “cross the bridge when we come to it.”

On the domestic front, Dr. Singh was asked whether a new anti-terror law was needed. He replied that it was not a just a legal problem, and the issue was “quite a complex one.”

“I have not reached a conclusion yet on a new law. I have asked a group of officials to assess the Administrative Reforms Commission’s suggestion (to have a new law.)”

The Prime Minister was clear that it was not a question of Centre-States relationship, but he did acknowledge that “the Centre has a responsibility to decide and assess whether a new law is required.”

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