Persisting with its diplomatic onslaught, India has held that despite the body of evidence confirming terror organisations operating freely in Pakistan, which is also endorsed by the United States, Islamabad is yet to take tangible and credible action to rein them.
The assertion, that even the US had provided ??strong evidence?? to Pakistan about involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba in the Mumbai attacks was made by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday in an interview to a newschannel in the wake of US media reports about a ??confession?? by a key Lashkar operative about his involvement in the incident. The foreign minister, however, added that Islamabad was yet to demonstrate tangible action even though it is obliged to do so under international laws.
??We have been told that there is some strong evidence available with FBI and they have shared it with Pakistan. We expect that Pakistan will act on them and hand over the perpetrators of terror attack in Mumbai to us,?? he told NDTV. Mukherjee held that Pakistan cannot shy away from its responsibility to take action against the perpetrators of terror attacks in the wake of evidence provided to them and the fact that it is a signatory to various international conventions. In the context of the demand made by India to hand over terrorists and criminals who have been sheltered by Pakistan, the minister said there was no need for an extradition treaty as Pakistan is party to international conventions and arrangements dealing with such issues.
In the wake of the latest developments, Mukherjee asked Pakistan to act on the ??advice?? of the world community and as per the international conventions besides its own commitments. ??So far the desired results are concerned, taste of pudding is in the eating. What we are asking Pakistan to do, requesting them (is) to fulfil their own commitments which they have made to our Prime Minister twice?? on January 6, 2004 and in September last year.
Underlining that ??the issue is not war?? between India and Pakistan or Indo-Pak relationship, he said. The issue is how to tackle terrorism which is emanating from Pakistani soil. The issue is how to prevent the terrorists from using the land of Pakistan, territory of Pakistan, which they committed not once but twice as I mentioned. ??Therefore, let them address the issue instead of creating a war hysteria. We have not mobilised.?? he said.