External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said, India was not considering military action against Pakistan in the wake of the terror attack on Mumbai. The remarks come amid escalating tensions in the region and New Delhi’s suspicion over the involvement of Pak-based elements in the strike that killed 170.
Pranab further said that India was awaiting a response from Islamabad on the Most Wanted Criminals’ list handed over to Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Shahid Malik last evening.
Malik was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday and served a demarche which sought strong action” from Islamabad against those behind last week’s attack in Mumbai.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Pranab said that the list was revised before being handed over to the diplomat. Similar lists have been handed over to Islamabad in the past also, but have failed to elicit action from Islamabad.
Malik was told that Pak-based elements were responsible for the Mumbai attacks. He was also told that Islamabad’s actions needed to match the sentiments expressed by its leadership that says it seeks a qualitatively new relationship with India, said MEA spokesperson Vishnu Prakash.
Pakistan was also asked to hand over with immediate effect India’s two most wanted criminals, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar.
Pranab also appreciated the US response to terror strikes in Mumbai and the solidarity expressed by its leaders, including President Bush and President-elect Barack Obama.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in New Delhi on Wednesday. Rice on Monday asked Islamabad to lend all cooperation to India in the ongoing investigations into the Mumbai terror attack.
Though initially expected to wrap up her visit to India with a stop-over at Islamabad, a state department statement on Tuesday said the travel plans were still being worked on, but added that Islamabad did not figure on the Rice itinerary as of now.
(UPDATE)
In an exclusive interview to NDTV later in the day, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has not ruled out the option of military strikes against terror camps in Pakistan.
Mukherjee said that every country has the right to protect its territorial integrity and take appropriate action when necessary. He also said that it has become difficult to continue the peace process with Pakistan in this atmosphere.
Pranab further said that India was awaiting a response from Islamabad on the Most Wanted Criminals’ list handed over to Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Shahid Malik last evening.
Malik was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday and served a demarche which sought strong action” from Islamabad against those behind last week’s attack in Mumbai.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Pranab said that the list was revised before being handed over to the diplomat. Similar lists have been handed over to Islamabad in the past also, but have failed to elicit action from Islamabad.
Malik was told that Pak-based elements were responsible for the Mumbai attacks. He was also told that Islamabad’s actions needed to match the sentiments expressed by its leadership that says it seeks a qualitatively new relationship with India, said MEA spokesperson Vishnu Prakash.
Pakistan was also asked to hand over with immediate effect India’s two most wanted criminals, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar.
Pranab also appreciated the US response to terror strikes in Mumbai and the solidarity expressed by its leaders, including President Bush and President-elect Barack Obama.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in New Delhi on Wednesday. Rice on Monday asked Islamabad to lend all cooperation to India in the ongoing investigations into the Mumbai terror attack.
Though initially expected to wrap up her visit to India with a stop-over at Islamabad, a state department statement on Tuesday said the travel plans were still being worked on, but added that Islamabad did not figure on the Rice itinerary as of now.
(UPDATE)
In an exclusive interview to NDTV later in the day, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has not ruled out the option of military strikes against terror camps in Pakistan.
Mukherjee said that every country has the right to protect its territorial integrity and take appropriate action when necessary. He also said that it has become difficult to continue the peace process with Pakistan in this atmosphere.
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