| |
Pakistan to send ISI rep to India
New Delhi must not put unjustified allegations on Pakistan, says
Zardari as India points finger at Pakistan
M S Tanvir
Islamabad—Pakistan on Friday accepted a request from India to send
the ISI Chief, Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha to India for sharing of
information related to the terrorist attack in Mumbai.
The request was made to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani by his
Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during former’s telephonic
conversation.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani telephoned his Indian
counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh and extended his government’s full
support for jointly combating extremism and terrorism and also
offered help in investigation.
However, according to a press release issued late Friday night, a
spokesman of the Prime Minister’s House said that a representative
of ISI will visit India instead of DG ISI to help in investigating
the Mumbai terrorism incident.
Sources said, during the conversation, Dr. Manmohan Singh told the
Prime Minister that preliminary reports point towards Karachi and
stressed the need for increased intelligence sharing and cooperation
in order to evolve a joint strategy.
The Prime Minster’s Spokesman said the two sides will work out
modalities for the visit of the Inter Services Intelligence chief
which is expected to take place soon.”
This would be the first instance of Chief of Pakistan’s spy agency
visiting India in connection with the investigation of a terror
attack. Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was also
consulted by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed
Yousuf Raza Gilani in this respect.
President Asif Ali Zardari said that the Pakistan government would
cooperate with India in exposing and apprehending the culprits and
the master minds behind the Mumbai attack and Director General Inter
Service Intelligence (ISI) would be sent to India for exchange of
information in this respect.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met with President Asif Ali
Zardari followed by telephonic conversation of the two with Indian
Prime Minister on Friday.
Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza was also present on the
occasion. Well-placed sources disclosed that a host of issues came
under discussion which included situation after Mumbai blasts, IMF
loan, allegation levelled by India on Pakistan, overall political
scenario of the country and operation in Tribal Areas.
Sources further stated that the President made it clear to India not
to hold Pakistan responsible for Mumbai terrorist attacks without
substantial evidence stressing that Pakistani soil was not being
used for any kind of terrorism.
The President lashed out at India saying it must not put unjustified
allegations on Pakistan of its involvements in these attacks.
The President went on to say that terrorism was an international
phenomenon and a menace to any country. Prime Minister briefed
President regarding his conversation with Indian Counterpart.
During telephonic conversation with Indian Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh, President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the Mumbai
terrorist attacks, saying he was appalled and shocked over the
tragedy, which he said had opened up his own wounds as Shaheed
Mohtarma Bhutto, had also fallen prey to the militants and
terrorists.
Sources said, the President said that non-state actors wanted to
force upon the governments their own agenda but they must not be
allowed to succeed. Zardari said, we should not fall into the trap
of the militants.
President Asif Ali Zardari also conveyed to the Indian Prime
Minister his heartfelt condolences and condolences of the people of
Pakistan over the loss of innocent lives in the attack and asked him
to convey his feelings to the members of the bereaved families.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari also wrote a letter to President
Pratibha Patil of India. He underlined that terrorism was “a global
phenomenon” that requires joint action and offered assistance to
India in investigating the incident.
“The people of Pakistan join you in mourning the loss of so many
precious lives,” Zardari said.
“We offer our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family
members of all those who have lost their lives or have been injured
in these incidents,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan vehemently denying Indian charges of involvement
of “some elements” in Pakistan in the terror strikes in Mumbai has
asked New Delhi not to “play politics”, saying the two countries
needed to tackle this collective issue together.
“Do not be jingoistic. Understand the sentiments behind it.
Understand that there are innocent people affected by it,” Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters in Ajmer when asked
about Mukherjee’s remarks.
“We are fighting the same issue. We are facing the common enemy. Do
not bring politics into it,” Qureshi maintained.
“This is a collective issue. We have to join hands (to fight
terrorism),” Qureshi stressed.
New Delhi on Friday, keeping in line with its tradition, accused
Pakistan of being involved in the Mumbai attacks and said
preliminary information has suggested that “some elements” in
Pakistan were responsible for the terror strikes in Mumbai.
“According to preliminary information, some elements in Pakistan are
responsible for Mumbai terror attacks,” External Affairs Minister
Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here.
“Proof cannot be disclosed at this time,” he said, noting that
Pakistan had assured India that it would not allow use of its
territory for launching attacks against this country and Pakistan
should fulfil this promise.
He said, we would take up this matter with Pakistan at the
diplomatic level. He alleged that terrorists’ camps operating in
Pakistan imparting training should be discouraged and such elements
must be arrested.
Mukherjee said anti terrorism mechanism exists between the two
countries under which both countries can share information.
Mukherjee said that terrorism is not only dangerous for Pakistan and
India but the entire world peace is at stake. He said, we need to
work together for ending this menace.
In his address to the nation Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blamed
elements outside the country for the terror strikes in Mumbai and
warned that India would not tolerate the use of territory of its
neighbours for attacks in India.
India will take up “strongly with its neighbours that the use of
their territory for launching attacks on us will not be tolerated
and that there would be a cost if suitable measures are not taken by
them.”
Singh said the “well-planned and well-orchestrated attacks, probably
with external linkages, were intended to create a sense of panic by
choosing high profile targets and indiscriminately killing
foreigners.”
|
