The Hindu : Front Page : India denies troop build-up on border

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 28, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

India denies troop build-up on border

Nirupama Subramanian

Non-state actors will be dealt with: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: India has told Pakistan that reports it is mobilising troops along its western border are without basis, but has once again pressed the Zardari government to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice and take steps to prevent further terrorist attacks from its territory.

Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal told Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir at a meeting on Friday evening that the anti-terror resolutions of the United Nations Security Council required the Pakistan government to take “judicial action” against the Jamat-ud-dawah and individuals designated by Resolution 1267 as “terrorist.”

Preventing attacks

Mr. Pal conveyed that the resolutions also required Pakistan to take “executive” steps, that is act to dismantle the “terror infrastructure” in order to prevent another attack from its soil, according to diplomatic sources privy to the meeting.

Pakistan, which conveyed its concern at reports of a troop-build up on the Indian side, was informed that there was no such thing.

Pakistan also wanted a response from India on its offer of a joint investigation into the Mumbai attacks.

A senior Indian diplomat said New Delhi had not responded yet as it was waiting for Pakistan to act on its commitments as required by the U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Forcing agenda

President Asif Ali Zardari told top members of the Pakistan People’s Party gathered in Naudero in the Sindh province on Saturday for the first anniversary of the assassination of his wife and party leader, Benazir Bhutto, that “non-state actors” were trying to force their agenda on the country.

But he also cautioned India against pushing Pakistan too hard to act against such elements. “We shall [take action] because we need it, not because you want it,” he said.

Pakistan did not want a war, he said, and seemed to warn of its possible internal consequences for the country.

Zardari for dialogue

“This mettle has been tested many times. Please do not test it again … Allow us the freedom of democracy, allow us the freedom of choice.”

Emphasising the need for dialogue, Mr. Zardari described it as “our biggest arsenal,” and the “solution to the problem of the region.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page