YEKATERINBURG, June 16 – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today bluntly told President Asif Ali Zardari to take action to stop terrorism against India emanating from his country’s soil as the two decided that their Foreign Secretaries will meet soon to discuss steps taken by Pakistan, reprots PTI. At the first top-level contact since the Mumbai terror attacks in November, the two leaders also decided to meet again in Egypt on the sidelines of NAM Summit next month to take stock of the outcome of the Foreign Secretaries meet.
Setting the tone for the meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Singh, shaking hands with Zardari, bluntly told him in front of television cameras that “my mandate is to tell you that Pakistan territory should not be used for terrorism against India.”
An apparently embarrassed Zardari told the Prime Minister “please let them (media) go” out of the room before they can have detailed discussion.
Briefing the media on the 40-minute meeting, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said: “The Prime Minister conveyed to the Pakistan President the full extent of our expectation of strong and effective steps to prevent use of Pakistani territory for terrorism against India.”
Menon made it clear that meetings between Singh and Zardari and the Foreign Secretaries did not mean resumption of dialogue.
“Foreign Secretaries will discuss the primary issue of terrorism and what Pakistan has done... We would like to hear what they have done to end terrorism directed against India,” he said.
Menon said relations between India and Pakistan were under “considerable stress” and the prime cause for it was terror acts coming out of Pakistan.
During the meeting, Zardari explained “some of the efforts” made by Pakistan to deal with terrorism and the “problem” Pakistan faces in this regard.
As a follow up to today’s deliberations, Foreign Secretaries of the two countries would discuss “what Pakistan is doing and what can be done”, Menon said adding, that the conclusions will be conveyed to the respective leaders so that they can take a view on it.
During the meeting, Singh is also believed to have conveyed India’s disappointment over release of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafeez Mohammad Saeed, a prime accused in Mumbai attacks.
On Pakistan’s contention that it is also a victim of terrorism, Menon said: “There is terrorism in Pakistan but that is not an issue here. What has paused the dialogue is terrorism coming out of Pakistan against India like Mumbai attacks.”
On Pakistan’s insistence on resumption of dialogue, Menon said “we too would like the dialogue, but the issue (terrorism directed against India) has to be addressed.”
In this regard, Menon referred to Prime Minister’s statement that it was in India’s interest to try to make peace with Pakistan “but it takes two hands to clap.”
Menon said India has never said it will not talk to Pakistan but the issue of terrorism has to be addressed.
To a question, he said there have been assurances by Pakistan in the past also but it has to be ascertained how much they have been fulfilled.
Assam Tribune
Setting the tone for the meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Singh, shaking hands with Zardari, bluntly told him in front of television cameras that “my mandate is to tell you that Pakistan territory should not be used for terrorism against India.”
An apparently embarrassed Zardari told the Prime Minister “please let them (media) go” out of the room before they can have detailed discussion.
Briefing the media on the 40-minute meeting, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said: “The Prime Minister conveyed to the Pakistan President the full extent of our expectation of strong and effective steps to prevent use of Pakistani territory for terrorism against India.”
Menon made it clear that meetings between Singh and Zardari and the Foreign Secretaries did not mean resumption of dialogue.
“Foreign Secretaries will discuss the primary issue of terrorism and what Pakistan has done... We would like to hear what they have done to end terrorism directed against India,” he said.
Menon said relations between India and Pakistan were under “considerable stress” and the prime cause for it was terror acts coming out of Pakistan.
During the meeting, Zardari explained “some of the efforts” made by Pakistan to deal with terrorism and the “problem” Pakistan faces in this regard.
As a follow up to today’s deliberations, Foreign Secretaries of the two countries would discuss “what Pakistan is doing and what can be done”, Menon said adding, that the conclusions will be conveyed to the respective leaders so that they can take a view on it.
During the meeting, Singh is also believed to have conveyed India’s disappointment over release of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafeez Mohammad Saeed, a prime accused in Mumbai attacks.
On Pakistan’s contention that it is also a victim of terrorism, Menon said: “There is terrorism in Pakistan but that is not an issue here. What has paused the dialogue is terrorism coming out of Pakistan against India like Mumbai attacks.”
On Pakistan’s insistence on resumption of dialogue, Menon said “we too would like the dialogue, but the issue (terrorism directed against India) has to be addressed.”
In this regard, Menon referred to Prime Minister’s statement that it was in India’s interest to try to make peace with Pakistan “but it takes two hands to clap.”
Menon said India has never said it will not talk to Pakistan but the issue of terrorism has to be addressed.
To a question, he said there have been assurances by Pakistan in the past also but it has to be ascertained how much they have been fulfilled.
Assam Tribune
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