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| Pakistan asks India to act sensibly |
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Sunday, November 30, 2008
Qureshi terms situation serious; third party spoiling ties; New Delhi warns Islamabad of slowing down peace process
ISLAMABAD: Terming the situation very serious, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said India must act to defuse severe tension that has flared after the militant assault on Mumbai.
He was addressing a press conference here at the Foreign Office after the federal cabinet held crisis talks about growing tensions over Indian accusations that attackers originated in Pakistan or had links to Pakistan.
Adviser to the PM on Interior Rehman Malik and Adviser on Security Mahmood Ali Durrani were also present at the press conference.
Qureshi said: "It is in Pakistan's interests and in India's interests to defuse the situation. Lowering of tension is essential."
Qureshi, who was in India on a scheduled visit to boost ties when the Mumbai assault began, said terrorism was a common enemy and India should not jump to conclusions.
"Finger-pointing or coming to hasty conclusions will play into the hands of the common enemy, that is, the terrorists."
He said that he had already urged the Indian media to act very responsibly and avoid blame games and there is a need to rise above the occasion and join hands to face the threat and menace of terrorism.
To another question, he said: "The situation is serious. Let us not fool ourselves, it is a serious situation" as some people in India have termed this incident as their 9/11. "I'm concerned — I could see India warming up towards Pakistan. Lowering of tensions is essential," Qureshi said.
"We cannot be oblivious of the seriousness of the situation," he remarked.
To a question as if the cabinet discussed the worst-case scenario, the foreign minister said: "Obviously. We should hope for the best and plan for the worst."
However, he said Pakistan will take action against any group within its borders if it was involved in the Mumbai attacks.
"Any entity or group involved in the ghastly act, the Pakistani government will proceed against it," he told reporters.
"They are suspecting that perhaps groups, organisations that could be involved in these attacks that could have a presence here," he said.
"What we have said is if they have information, if they have evidence, they should share it with us."
"We are a responsible nation and a responsible neighbour and we will behave and act responsibly," he said.
He added that the members of the cabinet universally condemned the attacks during their special meeting.
"Terrorism, in the cabinet's opinion, is a common threat to both nations and we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Indian people to defeat this enemy and defeat this menace," he said.
Qureshi sought to defuse the controversy over the decision not to send the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency to Mumbai, saying there had never been an agreement for such a visit.
"Indians did not request for a visit. It's too early for them and for us," he said.
He added the ISI would cooperate with the Indian government and the investigation of the attacks.
The foreign minister said the Indian leadership has not blamed Pakistan for involvement in the Mumbai attacks and Pakistan has decided on its own to extend full cooperation and assistance to India in the investigation of the incident.
Qureshi said Pakistan stands fully committed to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestation as it has also been a victim of terrorism.
He said Pakistan has also offered unconditional support and assistance to India to unearth the hands in this ghastly incident of Mumbai.
He said Pakistan government attaches high importance to having good, friendly and neighbourly relations with India, as these relations are necessary for peace and stability in the region.
Qureshi said the cabinet also decided to take into confidence all the political leadership inside and outside the Parliament on the evolving situation, following the Mumbai incident.
He said the cabinet also asked the people to maintain unity for facing this challenge.
He said the Indian government has not provided any evidence to Pakistan so far regarding the Mumbai incident. He said at this stage, the Indian government is just suspecting some groups or individuals for their involvement in the Mumbai incident.
He said the Government of Pakistan and all its institutions are unanimous that Pakistan is not involved in this ghastly act in Mumbai.
"We do not have to be defensive and we are not defensive as Pakistan is not involved in this incident," he said, adding: "Our hands are clean, there is nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of."
Relying to a question about consultation between the government and intelligence institutions in Pakistan, he said: "All state institutions are unanimous, in harmony, in consultations and extending cooperation and supporting each other."
About the decision to extend cooperation to India, the foreign minister said the decision has not been taken under any foreign pressure, adding that the decision has been taken in national interest.
Replying to a question about contacting political leadership by the government on the situation, he said Prime Minister Gilani has started this consultation, and on Saturday he contacted the leadership of the PML-N and PML-Q.
He said all the political leadership in the country would be taken into confidence on the Mumbai incident and Pakistan's reaction to it.
Answering a question, the foreign minister said the Mumbai incident is not related to Kashmir issue. He said Pakistan has a known stand on Kashmir.
He said Pakistan's forces at western border are playing an important role in the war against terror. He, however, said in case of any threat to national security and defence, Pakistan's people and army are capable and ready to defend the country at all cost.
Answering a question about involvement of non-state elements in the Mumbai incident, the foreign minister clarified that non-state elements means individuals, groups who do not have the support from the state.
About any disturbance in the Pakistan-India peace process and Composite Dialogue process, he said there is no time for political securing from the incident and every one should rise above the petty political issues. He hoped that the process would go on as he has seen forward movement from India in these dialogue process.
He said there has been very constructive engagement between the two countries in the dialogue process and added that Pakistan is committed to playing its role to move on the process and increase trade between the two countries. - APP
Meanwhile, talking to reporters at the New Delhi airport before leaving for Islamabad here on Saturday, Foreign Minister Qureshi said levelling allegations against Pakistan will not resolve terror issue and urged the Indian media to play responsible role.
He said: "Pakistan and India were coming close to each other but the third party did not like it and Pakistan is not involved in Mumbai terror attacks".
Qureshi said the issue of terror is not local but international and Pakistan 's offer of cooperation immediately after the attack showed that it was not involved in Mumbai attacks.
Prime minister's special aircraft was flown to New Delhi to fetch FM Qureshi so that he could attend the cabinet meeting as no commercial flight was available.
Earlier, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee bluntly told Pakistan that its intention to take a "leap" in bilateral relations would be "impossible" if "outrages" like the attacks in the financial capital do not stop.
Mukherjee told his visiting Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi that he hoped Islamabad would take "immediate action" with regard to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, said an official statement issue here.
Qureshi received the call from Mukherjee in the midst of a press conference at New Delhi on Friday.
The Indian minister said while the government of Pakistan has said that it wants a leap forward in relations between the two countries, "outrages like the attack on our Embassy in Kabul and now the attack on Mumbai are intended to make it impossible".
"The groups responsible and their supporters, are therefore, also acting against the direct interests of the Government of Pakistan," Mukherjee told Qureshi.
He said India expected Pakistan to honour its solemn commitments not to permit the use of its territory for terrorism against India.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
