India asks Pakistan to dismantle terror infrastructure

By Arun Kumar and Manish Chand, Washington, Nov 25 : Vowing not to rest till the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks are brought to justice, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday asked Pakistan to dismantle the terror infrastructure and all safe havens of terrorism.

Since the conspiracy was basically hatched in Pakistan, it is their obligation to punish the masterminds, the prime minister said while addressing the media at the conclusion of his four-day State visit to the US.

"It's our strong feeling that the government of Pakistan can do more to bring to book the perpetrators and masterminds of the ghastly crime who move about freely in Pakistan," Manmohan Singh said, hoping that there will be progress in that direction.

The prime minister, however, did not rule out talks with the Pakistani foreign minister at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) summit at Port of Spain though nothing has been planned as yet.

"We simply can't wish away Pakistan," he quipped when asked about the possibility of talks at the Commonwealth summit.

"Whenever politicians meet, they do talk. But as of now, no meeting is planned on the horizon."

Assuring Pakistan that it faces no threat from India, he said that a strong, stable Pakistan was in India's national interest. "We have worked and will continue to work in that direction."

Manmohan Singh asserted that his government will not rest till the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks are brought to justice.

"The government will not rest till we have brought the perpetrators of this crime to justice," Singh said in a statement that he read out at a press conference at Willard Hotel here.

A total of 166 people were killed in the Nov 26-29, 2008, Mumbai carnage that was unleashed by 10 terrorists from Pakistan who sneaked into the city from the sea. One of the terrorists was caught alive and is now undergoing trial in Mumbai.

"We have taken up the matter with all the force at our command with the government of Pakistan," Singh said.

"We expect the masterminds of the attack and their supporters to be tried and punished. Infrastructure of terrorism and all safe havens have to be dismantled," he asserted.

He also spoke about "remembrance and homage to all the innocent civilians and our brave men in uniform" who died in the 26/11 attack.

"It is a day of remembrance and paying homage to all the innocent civilians and brave men in uniform who lost their lives in one of the worst terrorist attack that country that our country has ever seen," he said in the statement.

"We will never forget the suffering that they have gone through. Our thoughts are with them," added Singh.

In the question and answer session, the prime minister assured the nation that there would be no repeat of 26/11-style attack. "We will do what is possible to prevent repetition of this ghastly act," he stated.

In the India-US joint statement released Tuesday, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Singh "underscored the absolute imperative to bring to justice the perpetrators of this terrorist attack".

"They expressed their grave concern about the threat posed by terrorism and violent extremists emanating from India's neighbourhood, whose impact is felt beyond the region. The two leaders agreed that resolute and credible steps must be taken to eliminate safe havens and sanctuaries that provide shelter to terrorists and their activities," said the joint statement.

The Pakistan government has accepted that the conspiracy of the Mumbai attack was planned and launched from its territory. India has given seven dossiers to the Pakistani government on investigation and has been especially miffed at Islamabad's refusal to take action against Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, on the plea of lack of evidence.

India broke off its comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks, asserting that Pakistan had to do more in dismantling terror infrastructure before talks are resumed.