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Rediff.com  » News » Demand for action against 26/11 culprits not unrealistic: Rao

Demand for action against 26/11 culprits not unrealistic: Rao

Source: PTI
June 09, 2011 16:41 IST
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India's demand that Pakistan should do more to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to justice is not an "unrealistic" one, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said.

"We want Pakistan to do more to bring the culprits of the Mumbai attacks to justice. Let me tell you, we are not asking for the moon. We are not asking for unrealistic things. We are asking for justice," she said while interacting with a group of visiting Pakistani journalists in New Delhi.

Rao said India was committed to the dialogue with Pakistan, which resumed earlier this year after a gap of over two years in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.

"India has shown courage to resume the dialogue with Pakistan as we believe that it is the best way to resolve problems peacefully. We should aim for a sustained dialogue and we must not be impatient. Every step we have taken so far in this regard is a meaningful step," she said.

Home Minister P Chidambaram, in a separate interaction with the Pakistani journalists on Wednesday, made it clear that confidence between the two countries cannot be restored unless Pakistan takes action against the "real culprits of 26/11".

Rao said India is concerned about terrorism in Pakistan."Pakistan has got identified with what happened on 26/11 and other terror incidents. It is unfortunate that many people have died in Pakistan owing to terrorism. Pakistan is going through difficult times," she said.

"Therefore, we want Pakistan to take on board the genuine concerns in this regard," she added.

Complaining about Pakistan's seriousness to tackle militancy directed against India, Rao asked why Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed was allowed to make public speeches in which he targets India.

"What do you think the sentiments of the people here will be when Saeed makes public speeches against India," she said.

Responding to a question about India supporting Pakistan's civilian government, she said New Delhi supported the democratically elected government but the army and intelligence agencies were playing a role in the process too.

Rao said India hoped that Pakistan's nuclear weapons would not fall into the hands of terrorists.

She also said the bilateral visa policy would gradually be improved once "we have a greater climate of confidence".

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