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India, Pak have the same enemies: Tharoor

December 22, 2009 14:32 IST

India on Tuesday said it is not in a position to resume composite dialogue with Pakistan till 'vigorous prosecution' is mounted against the accused in the Mumbai terror attack case and the infrastructure of terror across the border, responsible for numerous attacks on Indian soil, is dismantled.

"Pakistan has to ensure that the infrastructure of terror, from which so many attacks have been launched in our country, should be dismantled. We have not seen so far sufficient progress on this. We know seven people have been arrested, (but) we would like to see a vigorous prosecution mounted (in the 26/11 case) and we would be like others to be caught," said Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.

He said, "We have seen such terrible indications of how the planning, execution, financing, training and guiding of these (26/11) killers took place from Pakistani soil. So until that action takes place, we are obviously not in a position to resume the composite dialogue."

"Our prime minister has said very clearly 'you (Pakistan) take the first step, we will reach you more than half-way'. That first step has not been taken," Tharoor said.

India has been demanding the prosecution of Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the Mumbai carnage, and has handed over several dossiers to Pakistan in connection with the case.

Tharoor said, "One point of view is very simple. We can talk to people but the talking can only take place in an environment where both sides have confidence that something substantial would result and then some progress will follow.

"We can certainly talk to Pakistan when the time comes. Let them show us that they are serious in their understanding that those who have harmed India are the very same forces that threaten them, (and) they understand that we have the same enemies rather than any other approach. Then we will have a basis to talk," he said.

The minister refused to comment on the internal situation in Pakistan and said, "We wish Pakistan well in its efforts to attack militancy in their own country".

Tharoor told reporters on Monday night that the Indian government wants to see everyone involved in the Mumbai terror attacks case brought to justice and has not let anyone off the hook.

"As far as we are concerned, we are pursuing what we need to do. Our colleagues in the home ministry are working very hard on this dossier," he said.

"The issue matters to us. We want to see everyone involved in the 26/11 (strikes) to be brought to justice. We are not letting anyone off the hook and we are not letting down our guard," he said.

Tharoor said the ministries were dealing 'very seriously' with issues connected with the Mumbai carnage.

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