PM Asks World to Pressure Pakistan Attackers 26/11

Washington: news update, Warning of “phenomenal consequences” if the advance of terrorists in Pakistan was not controlled, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the world community to pressurise Islamabad to do much more to bring to book those responsible for the “horrible” 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
“We don’t want Pakistan to fail and emergence of democracy in Pakistan is something we welcome,” he said at the Council on Foreign Relations, a leading US think tank Monday. “But at the same time we have to recognise that there are forces at work in Pakistan that are with terrorists.”

“At least until now they were active only in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Now I think they hold direct on grip in several parts of mainland Pakistan.

“If that process is not controlled, it has I think phenomenal consequences for the security and stability of Pakistan as well as our own security,” he added.

Asked if he regretted not taking the military option in retaliation against the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the prime minister said he resisted enormous pressure at that time “and I think the decision that I took was balanced and right decision”.

“As regards future, I hate to speculate and sincerely hope that that sort of eventuality does not arise,” Manmohan Singh said. “And that’s why I believe world community has an obligation to impress upon Pakistan that it must use all its influence to curb the power of terrorist groups.”

The prime minister said Pakistan had done something to control the activities of Taliban terrorist groups in FATA, but “it has not acted as it should have acted in bringing the terrorists elements who are using their territory to target our country”.

Nor has Pakistan used all its machinery to bring to book all those murderers and those who perpetrated the horrible crime in Mumbai, he said, urging the world community to pressurise Pakistan to bring to book all those who are responsible for it.

There was now impeccable evidence that the conspiracy was planned in Pakistan with the active connivance of people still roaming about freely in Pakistan, he said. “Therefore I respectfully respect the world community to use all its influence on powers that be in Pakistan to desist from this sort of behaviour.”

Manmohan Says Willing to Resolve Kashmir Dispute

WASHINGTON News Update: India has enduring civilizational links with Afghanistan. India will continue to assist Afghanistan in building its institutions and its human resources.
With these two sentences, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday threw down the gauntlet to Washington, Islamabad and perhaps even Beijing and other world capitals that India would not be budged from pursuing its interests in Afghanistan — primarily of preventing the country from turning toxic under Pakistan’s malignant influence and American uncertainty.

He said we are ready to settle all disputes with Pakistan including Jammu and Kashmir row.

“The road to peace on Afghanistan will be long and hard. But given the high stakes involved, the commitment of the international community must be sustained by firm resolve and unity of purpose.”

Singh told Washington’s top policy wonks gathered to hear him at the Center for Foreign Relations, amid a continuing review by President Obama about U.S options in Afghanistan.

The remarks were clearly meant for the US President and his principals who have been bashing heads for several weeks now over next steps in Afghanistan amid charges of dithering on the crucial issue. Singh’s advice ahead of his meeting with Obama on Tuesday — Stay the course; we are going to be there.

Singh offered similar advice in an earlier address to US and Indian business leaders that the international community needs to remain engaged in Afghanistan and any “premature talk of exit will only embolden the terrorists.”

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Mumbai carnage, Singh also told the elite gathering, many of them regional experts keen to see India talking to Pakistan, that “for that to happen Pakistan must make a break with the past, abjure terrorism and come to the table with good faith and sincerity.”

He said his government had invested heavily in normalizing relations with Pakistan and “we are ready to pick up the threads of the dialogue including on issues relating Jammu and Kashmir.”

“We should not harbour any illusions that a selective approach to terrorism , tackling it on one place while ignoring it in others, will work,” Singh added.

Clearly, the Prime Minister too has taken a tough stand in the past few days on Pakistan even as Islamabad as reverted to its maximalist position on Kashmir, falling back on the long-lapsed UN Security Council resolution on the subject. The Prime Minister’s conditional offer of talks followed remarks in a television interview over the weekend in which he despaired about who to talk to in shifty Islamabad, where the civilian dispensation seemed to be overwhelmed by the country’s military.

Even on the nuclear issue, a confident Singh indicated India would not be overawed or intimidated by the Obama administration’s non-proliferation initiatives, welcoming talks on fissile material cut off treaty and while steering clear of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Much of what he said before the policy gathering seemed preparatory to his meeting with the US President tomorrow, their first bilateral encounter.

Singh showed the mildest sign of movement in New Delhi’s stand in the climate change talks saying India will not compromise the right of developing countries to develop and lift their populations out of property, but “we will do more if there is global support in terms of financial resources and technology transfer.”

Presses, Manmohan Pakistan Amid U.S Visit

WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday started a high-profile state visit to the United States with a call on President Barack Obama to stay committed on Afghanistan and pressure Pakistan.

The Indian premier arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington to kick off the first full-fledged state visit of Obama’s presidency, which will culminate in a swank black-tie dinner at the White House on Tuesday.

While a host of issues are on the table, experts say Obama’s main intention was to demonstrate his commitment to the world’s largest democracy after an early focus on working with its neighbors China and Pakistan.

But Singh made clear he would not shy away from offering advice on the top foreign issue for Obama — Afghanistan. Obama is wrapping up weeks of deliberation on whether to reinforce the 68,000 US troops who will be in Afghanistan by year-end.

“It is very important that both the US and the global community stay engaged in Afghanistan,” Singh said in an interview with USA’s The Washington Post and Newsweek, warning of civil war if US forces withdrew.

Singh also called for the Obama administration to pressure Pakistan to rein in Islamic extremists, saying that India’s historic rival has not done enough against militants blamed for last year’s chilling assault on Mumbai.

“We have been the victims of Pakistan-aided, -abetted and-inspired terrorism for nearly 25 years. We would like the United States to use all its influence with Pakistan to desist from that path,” Singh said in the interview.

“Pakistan has nothing to fear from India. It’s a tragedy that Pakistan has come to the point of using terror as an instrument of state policy,” he said.

He doubted that Pakistan and the United States had the same objectives in Afghanistan, saying that Islamabad’s main interest was to maintain a grip on its northern neighbor.

Al Qaeda Has a Control Over Parts of Pakistan: India PM

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has claimed in an interview Al Qaeda and the terrorists have a grip over several parts of Pakistan.

Talking to American news channel Manmohan said India was concerned about the rise of terrorism in Pakistan. He said terrorism would have very serious consequences for Indian security.

Replying a question the Indian prime minister said India sincerely hope the United States and the global community will stay involved in Afghanistan. A victory for the Taliban in Afghanistan would have catastrophic consequences for the world, particularly for South Asia, for Central Asia, for the Middle East.

Please Don’t Consider Me Future PM: Rahul Gandhi

Please Don’t Consider Me Future PM, Rahul Gandhi today asked people not to consider him as future prime minister saying nobody could predict the future.

“Please don’t consider me as the future prime minister. Nobody can predict the future and what lays in store. Anybody can become the prime minister,” he said interacting with about 1,500 students at a college here.

Rahul reacted in this manner when some students referred to him as the future prime minister.

He said the current prime minister Manmohan Singh was doing a good job.

Replying to a question on terrorism, the Congress said the country was dealing with the issue in accordance with the law.

Rahul also answered questions on global warming, reservations and other issues.

Security Australia PM Assures Indian Students

New Delhi: Australian PM Assures Indian Students’ Safety: Australian PM Assures Indian Students’ Safety, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Thursday his government is committed to take all “physically possible” step in ensuring that all international students in his country remain safe.

“The Australian government has pledged to do everything physically possible to ensure that all international students in Australia are safe and rewarding experience,” he told a luncheon meeting hosted by industry chambers CII.

Rudd said that Indian students represent the future of India, Australia and commercial ties are “guests in our country … We have an obligation to extend a hand of friendship and support to all indigenous students.

Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman had said yesterday that “safety and security of Indian students and people of Indian origin is very important … unfortunately been repeated attacks in the last week or so.”

Students from India have been the target of racial attacks in Australia. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister SM Krishna have already addressed the issue with Australia.

200 Megawatt Power Plant Opened: NRO Buried Forever, Says Prime Minister

PAKISTAN, LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said here on Saturday that the issue of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) has been buried for ever. Talking to reporters after inaugurating the $234 million 200 MW generating capacity Nishat power plant in Jamber, he said that the NRO issue was no more to be discussed for good.

He said that Article 58(2b) was irrelevant under present circumstances, especially in the presence of an active judiciary. “It is of no use today,” the Prime Minister said when asked to comment on the government’s intentions to abolish the “notorious” Article of the Constitution. When asked how long the military operation in Waziristan would last, he said that in view of the nation’s high spirits, it would not take so long to fight out the terrorists.

Regarding an offer extended to Aitezaz Ahsan to replace Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Gilani said that no such matter was discussed in his recent meetings with President. Whether Pakistan will raise the issue of evidence of Indian involvement in Balochistan, Gilani said the matter could be discussed when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh comes to the negotiation table.

He said Pakistan believed in maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours including India on the basis of equality. The Prime Minister said that increased energy production in the country was a high priority on the government agenda and measures were afoot to exploit all available natural resources for this purpose.

He said that it was the third such project in the fast-track category and added that the government was working to meet the current shortfall of 3500 MW. aid He said the government of Benazir Bhutto also faced similar challenges of electricity shortfall of around 2000 MW in 1993.

During that period, he said, the power policy of 1994 was chalked out and Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) was set up to act as a one-window facility. He said it proved to be a mega success story and Rs 3 billion were invested, that led to the production of 3000 MW.

The Prime Minister emphasised on harnessing the potential of natural resources in the country and added that the government was focussing in this regard on medium to long term plans to generate more electricity and enhance industrialisation in the country.

He said the government was exploring all other options to generate more electricity. He stressed the role of private sector in power generation and said it can play a vital role in increasing its production in the country. Gilani however pointed that peaceful political environment was must for economy. He said despite external factors, and internal challenges the government was committed to have a stable political environment.

He said the government was taking along all political parties through a policy of reconciliation. He said creation of a better political environment was must for conducive trade and investment in the country. The Prime Minister said no country can work in isolation and Pakistan desires good commercial relations with all countries. He said Pakistan was also pursuing economic interests in foreign policy, aimed at catalysing trade ventures.

“We believe in private sector resource mobilisation as was evident in the 1994 power policy and the successive policies revolving around it.” He said the government was pursuing policies to attract foreign investment and providing investor friendly environment. He said Pakistan was passing through an important phase after yet again a long period of dictatorship.

He said PPIB, Pepco, Nepra and others were working with great cohesion to help increase power production in the country. Gilani congratulated Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for promoting power generation in Punjab. He noted the ambitious plans of Shahbaz for adding new electricity projects in the province, by exploring hydropower ventures. He said the government would allocate more funds for hydel projects. The Prime Minister noted the credible track record of Nishat group in various projects and said it proves that Pakistan was an attractive place for investment.

India Withdraw 15,000 Troops in Peace Gesture

OCCUPIED JAMMU : India is withdrawing about 15,000 soldiers from Jammu and Kashmir, a military official said on Thursday, in a move aimed at boosting prospects of peace talks with the Kashmiri groups. India has been under international pressure in recent months to reduce tensions along its Pakistan border particularly Kashmir so that Islamabad could focus on fighting the Taliban on its western border with Afghanistan.

But military analysts said the slight thinning of troops in the occupied Jammu region was linked with ongoing efforts to resume talks with All Parties Hurriyat Conference rather than extending an olive branch to Pakistan. Kashmiris urged New Delhi to pull out troops, release prisoners and end alleged human rights violations after the Indian government offered to resume talks this month to end a two-decade insurgency.

A military spokesman said one army division was being moved in a phased manner since September from the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch because of improvement in the security situation. It wasn’t clear if these were troops deployed on the border or on internal security duties. “The readjustment and relocation of troops is subject to security reviews and periodic assessment of ground situation,” Lieutenant Colonel Biplab Nath said.

The troops who are being moved out are in the occupied Jammu region and not the occupied Kashmir Valley which is the centre of the revolt. Ashok Mehta, a retired army general and New Delhi-based strategic analyst, said the removal of troops was a goodwill gesture aimed at Kashmiri groups.

“The current de-induction of troops has nothing to do with the Afghanistan war,” he said. The announcement of the troop movement came as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is touring Kashmir said the security of the disputed region must rest in the hands of police. “The responsibility for maintaining law and order in the state will be increasingly devolved on the Jammu and Kashmir police,” he said. India moved about 4,000 soldiers from its Pakistan border in Kashmir in March.

IoK Under Heavy Security for Manmohan Singh Visit

SRINAGAR: IoK Under Heavy Security for Manmohan Singh Visit, Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK) was under tight security Wednesday as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was due to arrive in the insurgency in the region affected by a two-day trip.
Singh will inaugurate a railway line in the southern district of Anantnag and later hold talks with senior officials, an official spokesman.

Pro-independence Kashmiri leaders have called a general strike against the visit of Singh, which came a day after Muslim-majority Kashmir valley closed to protest the start of the occupation of India in the picturesque region on 27 October 1947.

“The prime minister and security review major development projects in the state,” said the spokesman, adding security had been reinforced by his stay in occupied Kashmir.

In the district of Anantnag special commandos were deployed for the opening of Singh of the railway line is an extension of an open line for him last October.

Some roads in the state of Srinagar, summer capital have also been sealed as Singh will be holding meetings with city officials.

The visit comes as India has offered new talks with Kashmiri separatists leaders.

Home Minister of India P. Chidambaram recently said that New Delhi would “quiet diplomacy and quiet dialogue” with all shades of politicians in IOK, including prominent pro-independence All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the party leaders.

The latest talks between the leaders in favor of independence for Kashmir and New Delhi were held in 2006.

The region is in the grip of a 20-year insurgency against Indian occupation until now has left over 47,000 dead, but violence has dropped significantly since the start of a peace process between India and Pakistan in 2004.

India Ready to Talk to Pak for Peace in Kashmir: Manmohan

SRI NAGAR: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought to reach out to the Pakistan government by saying that it was the desire of India and the people of Pakistan to live in peace.
Addressing a gathering in Anantnag before flagging off a train service between south and north of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister, however, underlined that Pakistan needed to curb terrorism.

“For a productive dialogue it is essential that terrorism must be brought under control,” the prime minister said.

“I strongly believe that the majority of the people in Pakistan seek good neighbourly and cooperative relations between India and Pakistan. They seek a permanent peace. This is our view as well,” he said.

He said India was ready to discuss humanitarian “and other issues” with the Pakistani government.

Next Page »