In a tough talk against Pakistan, India on Monday said it had not ?closed any options?, including a military strike, if Islamabad did not fulfil its anti-terror pledge.
Also, the acting high commissioner of Pakistan was called to the ministry of external affairs on Monday and handed over a letter written by the Pakistani national Mohammed Ajmal Mohammed Amir Kasab, who was involved in the terrorist attack on Mumbai. In his letter addressed to the Pakistan high commission, Kasab has stated that he and the other terrorists killed in the attack were from Pakistan and has sought a meeting with the Pakistan high commission.
Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a three-day conclave of nearly 130 heads of India?s missions abroad in the capital that began Monday, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India had not ?closed any options?, including a military conflict, and asked Islamabad to fulfil its anti-terror commitment.
?If there will be any military conflict nobody declares it in media. We have kept all our options open,? the minister responded when asked whether India and Pakistan were heading towards a showdown.
While indicating plainly that India will not shy away from a military strike, as speculated in a section of the media, if Pakistan does not deliver on its anti-terror pledge, the minister said, ?To achieve that objective (to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attack to book) we are not closing any options because our people have died.? Mukherjee, after inaugurating the conference of the Indian ambassadors and high commissioners, said, ?No responsible nation can escape its commitment.?
This is the first meeting of the heads of Indian missions across the world. It is aimed at briefing envoys on leading diplomatic challenges in which India is expected to play a major role in days to come. They have been convened to New Delhi to apprise them about the current standoff with Pakistan and other issues including the financial meltdown.
?We will expect from Pakistan to do whatever they have committed to do and fulfill their promises as respectful member of the community of nations,? he said.
