Author: Nilova Roy Chaudhury
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: July 22, 2006
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1750120,0008.htm
India is not buying Pakistan's protestations
of innocence about knowledge of terrorist elements on its soil, and professed
itself "disappointed" with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's
need for "proof" to act against terror infrastructure that is "intact"
in Pakistan and PoK.
Senior officials said the Lashkar-e-Taiba
(LeT), responsible for over 80 per cent of terrorist acts against India, was
"a creature of the ISI", which in turn is a "part of the Pakistan
establishment." To suggest that the Pakistan government is unaware of
or "cannot control this" is "specious," a senior official
said.
Detailed evidence against terrorists involved
in acts of terror against India, including Dawood Ibrahim, have been provided
to Islamabad, but there has been no action or even co-operation, officials
said.
"What proof was there against those involved
in the 9/11, beyond sketchy connections," an official asked. "See
how soon that was acted upon," he said. But Pakistan and some key interlocutors,
like the US, would be provided "proof" of Pakistan's links with
the July 11 Mumbai serial blasts.
Critical of Musharraf's offer to assist in
the probe against those responsible for the Mumbai outrage only if proof was
provided, India on Friday asked Islamabad, as a first gesture, to hand over
Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and Dawood Ibrahim, ministry of external
affairs spokesman Navtej Sarna said.
Pakistan needed to act on promises made earlier
not to allow territory under its control for any terrorist activities against
India, he said, urging Islamabad to ban Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the political wing
of the LeT, and arrest its leaders, instead of merely keeping "close
watch" on them.
India was committed to peace and the bilateral
dialogue process, Sarna said, but it could "be sustained and yield results
only if Pakistan acts against terrorist groups operating from its territory
and PoK in accordance with its solemn commitment of January 6, 2004."
"We have never said the peace process is off," a senior official
said.
"We have not given the dates for the
review of the round three of the composite dialogue because of the prevailing
circumstances," the official said.
"If they (Pakistan) really want to convince
people of India that they are willing to work together with India against
terrorism, they have to take immediate action and they can," Sarna said
reacting to Musharraf's address on Thursday. "Dawood Ibrahim should be
arrested and deported to India," Sarna said.
