NEWS

Pak should enforce curbs on Hizb: PM

By Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow and agencies
May 21, 2003 20:38 IST

Pakistan should 'sincerely' implement the curbs imposed on Hizbul Mujahideen and show no softness towards other terrorist outfits, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said on Wednesday.

Addressing the press in Lucknow, where he is on a two-day visit, Vajpayee specifically referring to the recent terrorist attack in Rajouri said, "The menace of terrorism is not limited to one country. It has become a global problem and has to be fought globally."

"Though the terrorists are losing people's support, their activities are still continuing. Therefore, we have to remain as alert as possible," he said. He suggested strengthening the international coalition against terrorism.

Reiterating his stand on the Kashmir issue, Vajpayee on once again said that neither was a third party intervention welcome, nor could it resolve it. "Kashmir is a bilateral issue and can be resolved only through dialogue between the two countries", he said. "It is wrong on the part of  (Pakistan President) General Musharraf to raise the issue at the Security Council." 

"However, his failure to evoke support from any nation should be enough message for Pakistan to realise the futility of raising the issue at an international forum," he added.

 

Expressing concern over the unabated cross-border terrorism in Kashmir, he stressed that any step towards peace would be frustrated unless such activity was brought to and end. "On our part, we have displayed our sincere intentions towards evolving a peace process. I undertook the bus ride to Lahore but they sparked off trouble in Kargil, yet again we initiated the Agra summit, but again they failed to respond," he said.


The prime minister emphasised upon the need for Pakistan to hand over all terrorists whose names had been submitted to their government.

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow and agencies

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