Pakistan needs to be serious in tackling terrorists: Antony

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 2 : Defence Minister A.K. Antony Monday warned that relations with Pakistan can improve only if it takes serious steps against terrorists waging war against India.

"In relations with Pakistan, the main impediment is that there are still large number of terrorist camps operating across the border. There is a continuous effort to push terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has to take serious efforts (to tackle terrorists), then only relations can improve," Antony told reporters after giving out Trivandrum Press Club journalism awards here.

When asked if the government will use the army against the Maoists, he said: "We are very clear that law and order is a state subject. The centre will only help them (the states) with paramilitary forces. Army can be called in only as the last resort, when all other options have been exhausted."

Asked about the Indo-ASEAN free trade agreement, Antony criticised Kerala's Left Front government which has opposed the treaty.

"Minister of Commerce Anand Sharma wrote to the chief minister (V.S. Achuthanandan) in August regarding all the aspects of the negative list. People here are trying to make a political issue out of this. This should not happen," said Antony.

--IANS