INDIA NEWS
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INDIA NEWS |
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January 13, 2002 |
Statement by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on Pakistan President's address on terrorism
The Government of India has noted that the major portion of the address of the
President of Pakistan yesterday related to reforms to modernize Pakistan. We
wish the people of Pakistan well in this endeavour. To the extent that these
reforms have a direct nexus to external developments, we welcome them.
We welcome the now declared commitment of the Government of Pakistan not
to support or permit any more the use of its territory for terrorism anywhere in
the world, including in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. This commitment
must extend to the use of all territories under Pakistan's control today. We
would assess the effectiveness of this commitment only by the concrete action
taken. Consequently, we expect Pakistan to cooperate with India in stopping all
infiltration across the International border and the Line of Control.
The Government notes the decision of the Government of Pakistan to ban the
Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad, the two terrorist organisations
involved in the December 13 attack on the Indian Parliament. We look forward to
an effective and full implementation of this measure, so that its members do not
continue activities under other names.
There would be a similar need to address other terrorist organisations
targetting India, as also the parent organisations that spawn them.
Continuing lack of action against fugitives from law about whom detailed
information has been provided to Pakistan on several occasions is disappointing.
It remains our expectation that the Government of Pakistan will even now act on
this.
The Government of India rejects entirely and categorically the comments
of the President of Pakistan about the situation in the Indian State of Jammu
and Kashmir.
The Government of India remains committed to the bilateral dialogue process with
Pakistan in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Shimla Agreement and
the Lahore Declaration. Should the Government of Pakistan operationalise its
intention and move purposefully towards eradicating cross-border terrorism, the
Government of India will respond fully, and would be prepared to resume the
composite dialogue process. We reiterate our conviction that all issues between
India and Pakistan can only be addressed bilaterally. There is no scope for any
third party involvement.
New Delhi
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