NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
The five-member Indian delegation, which returned from Brussels on Thursday, has told the European Union that India will not take steps for de-escalation till Islamabad takes concrete action to combat cross border terrorism.
The five-member delegation included National Conference Member of Parliament Abdul Rashid Shaheen, Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar, former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A Sangma, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sundar Singh Ahluwalia and Professor Mushirul Hasan.
"Our mission was very successful. We have sent the message to the European Union and the United States that they should categorically condemn the terrorist acts that take place on our soil. India's is the world's largest democracy and even during 50-plus years of economic and political uncertainties, it has been able to sustain and, indeed, thrive on its democracy which has to be maintained," Shaheen told rediff.com.
"We have told the EU (and the US) that there can be no place for a participant of the global coalition against terrorism in it, if it continues fostering cross border terrorism," he said.
He said, "India had suffered the vicious variety of cross border terrorism for over a decade, and now it is determined to root it out."
However, another delegation member, who did not want to be identified, said that while EU chairman Josep Pique appreciated India's determination to fight terrorism, the latter pointed out that neither his organisation nor the US could agree to New Delhi's perception of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
He quoted the EU chairman as saying that fighting terrorism was not India's prerogative alone, and that Musharraf has to be commended for having the courage to take on the religious fundamentalists in his country.
He said that Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar 'made a good presentation' in Brussels, proving how cross border terrorists and their associates elsewhere in India were causing havoc.
On Wednesday India had again rejected Pakistan's offer for resumption of dialogue between the two countries till 'Islamabad first translated its words into deeds to prove that it was serious in discontinuing cross border terrorism'.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
Call India
