Pakistan’s attitude towards tackling terrorism has “altered”, a “concrete” development that India should take note of, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said in an interview with an Indian news channel.
“I think the prism through which they see this issue has definitely been altered,” Rao told Karan Thapar on “Devil’s Advocate” programme on CNN-IBN. She was replying to a question on whether India saw a change in Pakistan’s attitude towards terrorism during the recently concluded foreign secretary-level talks.
Asked whether it was a positive development, Rao said it was an outcome that India must take note of. “I think when they speak of the fact that non-state elements in this relationship need to be tackled, that we must look at safe havens and sanctuaries, that we must look at fake currency, we must look at all the aspects that are concerned with the business of terror, I think that is a concrete development,” she said.
Rao, however, said she would not expect Pakistani officials to talk about the strategic link between the Pakistani state and militancy and terror. Asked that the Indian government has now decided that it can no longer refuse talks, needs to engage with Pakistan in the hope that engagement will produce results, Rao said it is a very realistic approach in dealing problems with Pakistan. “I think the decision to re-engage with Pakistan and to talk about the issues that divide us, that created a gulf between us that reduce the trust deficit as the two prime ministers said, is a very realistic approach in dealing problems with Pakistan.
She said India has “adequately communicated” to Pakistan that it expects to see progress in the 26/11 trial and “we need concrete results”. “I have said it and I say it again we do need closure on all these issues. These are issues of paramount concern to India and very legitimately so. And I think Pakistan is fully aware of this.
Asked whether her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir accepted the revelations made by Mumbai attacks case accused David Headley in a Chicago trial court, Rao said the strategic link between the Pakistani state and militancy and terror needed to be broken. “Well, he is not going to say that in so many words to me. I think it would be unrealistic for me to expect that the foreign secretary of Pakistan is going to say that,” she said when asked whether Bashir admitted to the strategic link between the Pakistani state and terror outfits.
Rao said she did discuss Headley’s revelations about ISI involvement in Mumbai attacks and told Bashir that India wanted satisfactory answers on these linkages. “But let me say that the fact that we are discussing the threat, the scourge, the evil of terrorism and the fact that it has ramifications that extend into the entire region, I think is a development we must take note of,” she said. The foreign secretary rejected suggestions that she was generous towards Pakistan.
Pakistan’s attitude towards terror has altered: Rao
