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“Downgrade diplomatic ties with Pakistan”

NEW DELHI: Ten former Ambassadors, including four former Foreign Secretaries, have urged the government to downgrade its diplomatic ties with Pakistan because of its inability to take meaningful action against the masterminds of the Mumbai terror attacks. They also wanted the government to restrict procurement from countries or companies supplying defence material to Pakistan.

The other recommendations of the Ambassadors’ Forum include suspending bilateral negotiations and dialogue mechanisms, discontinuing state assisted cultural, sporting and other exchanges, reviewing existing bilateral treaties and agreements and taking specific economic measures against Pakistan.

The Forum had met to discuss the current situation arising from the Mumbai terrorist attacks. In a statement, it said, “Clearly, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks were carried out by terrorists from Pakistan with the knowledge and support of sections of the Pakistan military and the ISI.”

“Pakistan has taken no meaningful action and sought to obfuscate its responsibility under international law and oft-stated solemn commitments given to India and the international community that its territory will not be allowed to be used for terrorism against India.

“But the reality is that Pakistan continues to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy. People of India are angry and want decisive action against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Past experience shows that pressure from the international community does not go beyond exhortations and platitudes. India will have to deal with the threat coming from Pakistan essentially on its own,” the statement noted.

The signatories to the statement included M. K. Rasgotra, A.N. Ram, K. Raghunath, Lalit Mansingh, Arjun Asrani, Kanwal Sibal, Arundhati Ghose, Kuldip Sahdev, Ishrat Aziz and Dilip Lahiri.

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