New Delhi, July 17: Refuting charges that India capitulated to Pakistan during Cairo talks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said that starting point for “any meaningful dialogue” will depend on actions by Islamabad to end cross-border terror.
“Any meaningful dialogue will depend on Islamabad fulfilling its anti-terror pledge in letter and spirit,” the PM said hoping that there would be “forward movement” in the coming months.
He however put in a cautious note by adding, “Whether, when and in what form we broaden the dialogue with Pakistan will depend on future developments.”
Making a statement in the Lok Sabha against the backdrop of BJP’s charge of reversal of India’s long-standing position, Singh said “action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process and therefore cannot await other developments.”
The Prime Minister also asked Pakistan to take “sustained, effective and credible action” not only against the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage, but also against the larger infrastructure of terrorism on its territory.
“I also conveyed to Gilani that sustained, effective and credible action has to be taken not only against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks, but also shut down the operations of terrorist groups to prevent future attacks,” Manmohan Singh said in a prepared statement he read out in the Lok Sabha within hours of his return.
Manmohan Singh also added that he has conveyed to the Pakistani leadership “strongest sentiments of people of India” on terrorism, and specially the Mumbai attacks.
On the response from the Pak PM, Manmohan Singh said that Yousuf Raza Gilani has assured all cooperation and reiterated that Pakistan “would everything in its power” to bring perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice.
Angry BJP stages walkout
However, the Opposition was not happy with the PM’s reply.
Alleging the government had capitulated to Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, Leader of Opposition L K Advani said, “We (India) have conceded.”
“You have delinked terrorism and the composite dialogue. Why have you taken seven months to decide on this?” queried Advani before leading his party members out of the lower house of Parliament.
Advani alleged that India had surrendered to Pakistan government’s insistence that action against terror groups should not be linked to the resumption to the dialogue process.
–Agencies