Voicing concern over Pakistan’s inaction against perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks, including Hafiz Saeed, India on Tuesday warned that its restraint should not be confused with weakness and said it is “very, very difficult” to resume composite dialogue at present.
”... please realise that there are groups in Pakistan that continue to follow an agenda of violence, of hatred,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in response to a question from a Lahore-based Pakistani national who asked why India was refusing to restart the composite dialogue with Pakistan which itself was a victim of terrorism.
“I did not want to bring the name of Hafiz Saeed and Jamaat-ud-Dawah and the LeT ... we feel (they) continue to roam, to speak, to be allowed unhindered access to media, to channels to communicate that agenda (of violence).. that effects us, our people are concerned about it,” Ms. Rao said.
The general feeling in India right now is: “We have suffered too much for too long,” she said.
“It is very, very difficult to be convinced in such a situation that we should set aside these concerns and just move on. And that is why, I said when you talk of resuming composite dialogue (it) becomes very, very difficult to do that in the current situation,” Ms. Rao said.
At the same time, she said the door for talks with Pakistan had never been shut.
“India has always condemned terrorist attack inside Pakistan,” Ms. Rao, who is in the US on a six-day visit, said. “We have never in any way condoned that. We condemn it whole heartedly.”
Composite dialogue
Earlier in her address also, she ruled out resumption of composite dialogue with Pakistan till Islamabad guarantees that terrorism can be controlled by its authorities.
“Today, Pakistan claims that it is in no position to give us such a guarantee that terrorism can be controlled by its authorities. In such a situation, the people of India who are already bitterly affected by the series of terrorist attacks directed against them, can hardly be expected to support the resumption of a full-blown Composite Dialogue with Pakistan,” Ms. Rao said.
She asserted that despite the brazen and malignant nature of the threats India face, New Delhi has made several genuine efforts to restore trust and confidence.
“Aggressive pronouncements by persons identified by the world as terrorists continue to be made openly against India.
Distinctions made between the various terrorist outfits are now meaningless, since they are now in effect fused both operationally and ideologically,” she said.
“We have consistently emphasised the need for governments concerned to act decisively to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and to effectively deal with groups that perpetrate it.”
However, Ms. Rao said, “our restraint should not be confused with weakness or unwillingness to act against those that seek to harm our people, create insecurity and hamper our developmental goals.”
“It is also important that there are strict accountability criteria that apply to defence assistance rendered to Pakistan for operations against terrorists and insurgents on the border with Afghanistan,” Ms. Rao said.
New Delhi’s past experience regarding such assistance has taught it to be vigilant to the possibility of the aid being used “for purposes that generate tension and hostile actions against India,” the Foreign Secretary said.
“We do not have aggressive designs against Pakistan and we want it to be a stable and prosperous country. But we will be vigilant about our security. That is our sovereign right.”
Ms. Rao said India has time and again made genuine attempts to address outstanding issues, most importantly, the issue of terrorism through dialogue with Pakistan. “My meeting with my Pakistani counterpart (Salman Bashir on February 25) represented the latest such move.”
Despite the provocations India has faced constantly from terrorists whose linkages it has traced back to Pakistani soil, New Delhi has not abandoned the path of dialogue, she said.
Terrorism
“And in our recent meeting, India’s approach was to focus on our concerns regarding terrorism, pending humanitarian issues and some bilateral visits that have been planned or spoken of, but have not taken place,” Ms. Rao said.
“But it continues to be our conviction that for this dialogue to really make progress, Pakistan should take meaningful steps to address our concerns on terrorism, and cease the encouragement of terrorism targeted against India.”
Afghanistan
Turning to Afghanistan, Ms. Rao said the recent attacks on Indians were aimed at forcing India out of the war-torn nation and ruled out scaling down New Delhi’s operations there.
“We are not scaling down our operations in Afghanistan, we are taking all necessary security measures to safeguard Indian lives there,” she said in response to a question.
Ms. Rao said there was “no quick solution” to the Af-Pak situation and “it was important for international community, in its own interest, to stay the present course for as long as it was necessary.”
Indo-China ties
About Sino-India ties, she said the relationship has improved significantly in the last two decades and the two neighbours are discussing ways to resolve their border issue.
“The rise of China and the rise of India has become an object of world attention. I think, in both the countries, we see a competitive edge but we also see a greater degree of collaboration between the two counties,” Ms. Rao said. “There is peace on our borders with China.”
On the Indo-US relationship, she said the conclusion of the civil nuclear Agreement in 2008 was “a major definitive milestone” in bilateral ties.
The implementation of the deal is “proceeding smoothly and satisfactorily”, she said. “We are in the process of operationalising the agreement through close coordination between our two governments.”
The nuclear liability bill is likely to be introduced in India Parliament after the recess, Ms. Rao -- who is set to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, National Security Advisor James Jones and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns -- said replying to a query.
Showing posts with label Foreign Secretary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foreign Secretary. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
“India's help to Sri Lanka on resettlement of IDPs will continue”
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa here on Sunday and exchanged views on a whole range of issues of mutual interest to both the countries in general and the ongoing rehabilitation of war-displaced Tamil civilians in particular.
Ms. Rao is here on a three-day visit on the invitation of the Sri Lankan government to the island nation. Her visit comes a few days after the External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told the Rajya Sabha in a written answer that the war in the island nation was over but the search for a political settlement continued.
“The government [of India] is of the view that the conclusion of the military operations in Sri Lanka provides an opportunity to make a new beginning and pursue a lasting political settlement in Sri Lanka,” the Minister had said and added that “the necessity of reaching a political settlement has been stressed to the Sri Lankan government.”
This is Ms. Rao's first visit to Sri Lanka since she took charge as Foreign Secretary and it is the first visit of an Indian official of her stature since the re-election of Mr. Rajapaksa in the January 26 Presidential election.
A statement by the Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat said Mr. Rajapaksa told Ms. Rao that there was considerable success in resettling internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North and the East, with the number now standing at less than 70,000. This issue had now gone away from the attention of the international community, she said.
On the current political developments in Sri Lanka, she said the presence of more than 1,000 candidates for the coming general elections and the elections to the Northern and Eastern provinces showed the enthusiasm of the people for the democratic process, and the change that had taken place with the restoration of peace. “There is a great sense of hope and optimism in the air wherever I have been to,” she said.
Ms. Rao conveyed to Mr. Rajapaksa India's willingness to continue assisting Sri Lanka in the resettlement of the IDPs.
“Similarly, India was also keen to assist in the complete restoration of the railway line in the North. Among other matters of mutual interest discussed were that of the problems faced by fisherman from both counties, the proposed coal powered power project in Trincomalee, and the necessity for understanding between India and Sri Lanka on the protection of the environment and the eco-systems,” a statement by the Presidential Secretariat said.
Colombo and Sri Lanka have been Ms. Rao's diplomatic home away from home beginning from the 1980s. She was India's High Commissioner in Colombo during the eventful years of 2004-2006, when governments changed and the Eelam War IV began. Against this backdrop, several constituencies within and outside the island nation have varied expectations from the visit.
The statement said Ms. Rao congratulated the President for his resounding victory in the recent Presidential election and observed that so much had taken place for the better in Sri Lanka since she was last here as High Commissioner.
Towards better ties
During the meeting, Ms. Rao said the victory of the President gave much cause for confidence and hope for bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka in the future, and the Indian Prime Minister looked forward to an early visit by Mr. Rajapaksa to India.
Among other matters of mutual interest discussed were the problems faced by fishermen from both countries, the proposed coal powered power project in Trincomalee, and the necessity for an understanding between India and Sri Lanka on the protection of the environment and the eco-systems.
Ms. Rao is here on a three-day visit on the invitation of the Sri Lankan government to the island nation. Her visit comes a few days after the External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told the Rajya Sabha in a written answer that the war in the island nation was over but the search for a political settlement continued.
“The government [of India] is of the view that the conclusion of the military operations in Sri Lanka provides an opportunity to make a new beginning and pursue a lasting political settlement in Sri Lanka,” the Minister had said and added that “the necessity of reaching a political settlement has been stressed to the Sri Lankan government.”
This is Ms. Rao's first visit to Sri Lanka since she took charge as Foreign Secretary and it is the first visit of an Indian official of her stature since the re-election of Mr. Rajapaksa in the January 26 Presidential election.
A statement by the Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat said Mr. Rajapaksa told Ms. Rao that there was considerable success in resettling internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North and the East, with the number now standing at less than 70,000. This issue had now gone away from the attention of the international community, she said.
On the current political developments in Sri Lanka, she said the presence of more than 1,000 candidates for the coming general elections and the elections to the Northern and Eastern provinces showed the enthusiasm of the people for the democratic process, and the change that had taken place with the restoration of peace. “There is a great sense of hope and optimism in the air wherever I have been to,” she said.
Ms. Rao conveyed to Mr. Rajapaksa India's willingness to continue assisting Sri Lanka in the resettlement of the IDPs.
“Similarly, India was also keen to assist in the complete restoration of the railway line in the North. Among other matters of mutual interest discussed were that of the problems faced by fisherman from both counties, the proposed coal powered power project in Trincomalee, and the necessity for understanding between India and Sri Lanka on the protection of the environment and the eco-systems,” a statement by the Presidential Secretariat said.
Colombo and Sri Lanka have been Ms. Rao's diplomatic home away from home beginning from the 1980s. She was India's High Commissioner in Colombo during the eventful years of 2004-2006, when governments changed and the Eelam War IV began. Against this backdrop, several constituencies within and outside the island nation have varied expectations from the visit.
The statement said Ms. Rao congratulated the President for his resounding victory in the recent Presidential election and observed that so much had taken place for the better in Sri Lanka since she was last here as High Commissioner.
Towards better ties
During the meeting, Ms. Rao said the victory of the President gave much cause for confidence and hope for bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka in the future, and the Indian Prime Minister looked forward to an early visit by Mr. Rajapaksa to India.
Among other matters of mutual interest discussed were the problems faced by fishermen from both countries, the proposed coal powered power project in Trincomalee, and the necessity for an understanding between India and Sri Lanka on the protection of the environment and the eco-systems.
Hafiz Saeed's arrest was raised at Foreign Secretary-level talks: MEA
India on Sunday asserted that the issue of arrest of Hafiz Saeed, one of the masterminds of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, did figure prominently during the Foreign Secretary-level talks here on February 25.
New Delhi also expressed surprise over the statement by Islamabad that the issue was not taken up at the parleys between Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir.
“Saeed's activities including his recent vitriolic and venomous statements aimed at fomenting further acts of terrorism against India and the unhindered public space and freedom he enjoys in Pakistan was raised strongly by India during the Foreign Secretary-level talks,'' an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said in a statement here.
Responding to a question on the recent statement by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who claimed that India never demanded the arrest of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief, the spokesman said New Delhi had been demanding action since the barbaric and dastardly attacks.
“A dossier containing a compilation of evidence on the involvement of Hafiz Saeed in the terrorist attacks was handed over to Pakistan on August 21, last year and his name featured prominently in yet another dossier handed over to the Pakistan Foreign Secretary during the February 25 talks,'' the spokesman said.
New Delhi also expressed surprise over the statement by Islamabad that the issue was not taken up at the parleys between Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir.
“Saeed's activities including his recent vitriolic and venomous statements aimed at fomenting further acts of terrorism against India and the unhindered public space and freedom he enjoys in Pakistan was raised strongly by India during the Foreign Secretary-level talks,'' an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said in a statement here.
Responding to a question on the recent statement by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who claimed that India never demanded the arrest of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief, the spokesman said New Delhi had been demanding action since the barbaric and dastardly attacks.
“A dossier containing a compilation of evidence on the involvement of Hafiz Saeed in the terrorist attacks was handed over to Pakistan on August 21, last year and his name featured prominently in yet another dossier handed over to the Pakistan Foreign Secretary during the February 25 talks,'' the spokesman said.
