Author: Times News Network
Publication: The Times of India
Date: October 7, 2001
If India had expected a clear-cut
public endorsement of its stand against the cross-border terrorism emanating
from Pakistan, it was certainly not forthcoming in a s many words.
It does seem like both the U.S.
and Britain do not want to say anything that may put Pakistan's Gen Pervez
Musharraf in any sort of difficulty.
British premier Tony Blair, here
on a brief "working visit", made it clear on Saturday that although his
country agreed with India that terrorism should be fought in all its forms
by the emerging international coalition, the current targets were Osama
bin Laden, his terrorist network and camps and the Taliban.
As for Kashmir, Mr Blair extended
his "deepest sympathies" for the victims of the recent attack on the Srinagar
legislative assembly, saying, "Such outrages have no place in any civilised
society and those who perpetrate them should be brought to justice." But
that was all. The rest of his brief appearance before mediapersons on Saturday
morning was devoted to Afghanistan. Earlier in the day, Mr Blair met Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for a 35-minute discussion.
Asked about the inherent contradiction
in seeking Pakistan's help in the war against terrorism, Mr Blair said
it was important to realise that the focus was on dealing with the situation
in Afghanistan and closing down Bin Laden's network, and camps.
Mr Vajpayee who address the media
along with the British premier made India's position clear, saying terrorism
could not be tackled selectively. "We are fighting a global war against
terrorism and there has to be a global solution to it ," he said.
In an obvious reference to Pakistan,
Mr Vajpayee said countries "should not be allowed to pursue their own terrorist
agendas under the cover of this action against terrorism. "Condoning a
militant act in one place may lay the foundation for a more virulent attack
elsewhere.
The attack on Srinagar hit at the
symbol of the state's democratic polity," he remarked, stating that he
and Mr Blair had also discussed "the sinister agenda behind the Srinagar
blast".
Both India and Britain agreed that
Afghanistan needed a broadbased government, one that represented all ethnic
groups and did not export extremism or terrorism. Lauding India's strong
stand, Mr Blair said India had made clear what help it could offer in the
planned war against extremist activities.
