By IANS,
New Delhi : With Pakistan dilly-dallying in its response to the Mumbai attacks, President Pratibha Patil Thursday reminded it to honour its anti-terror commitment and asked it to take “decisive and credible action against all terrorist groups that are based in, and operate from, its territory”.
Underlining the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, the president said the Nov 26 Mumbai terrorist attacks were “deliberately planned to retard our economic progress”.
In her address to the joint session of the two houses of parliament, Patil lauded the government for raising the global profile of India and pursuing an independent foreign policy that has led to better relations with major powers like the US, Russia and Europe and spoke about improvement in ties with China and Japan.
The president also focussed on India’s improving relations with neighbours in South Asia, and underlined that although ties with Pakistan made “considerable progress” over the last five years, the continuation of terrorism has eroded this process.
“Our relations with Pakistan have made considerable progress since 2004, but, regrettably, terrorism from Pakistan has eroded the achievements of the bilateral dialogue process and has caused a grave setback to our relations,” the president said.
“Despite solemn commitments given by Pakistan at the highest level that it would not allow territory under its control to be used for terrorism in any manner against India, terrorists from Pakistan have continued to attack India,” she said.
“We expect Pakistan to honour the commitments made to us, and to take decisive and credible action against all terrorist groups that are based in, and operate from, its territory,” she stressed.
Referring to “multiple internal security challenges” and the terrorist strikes in several cities last year, the president said the government was heartened by the international support it has received after these attacks.
“There is greater appreciation in the international community of the threat that exists to the region and the world from the terrorism emanating from Pakistan,” she said.
The president’s remarks came amid Pakistani media reports about a move by Islamabad to file charges against Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Mumbai attacker in Indian custody and 13 other people after an internal probe by Pakistan’s investigative agencies.
Conveying concerns over the “the plight of civilians” displaced in Sri Lanka due to the military conflict, the president appealed to the Sri Lankan government and to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to return to the negotiating table for a negotiated settlement.
“This can be achieved if, simultaneously, the Government of Sri Lanka suspends its military operations and the LTTE declares its willingness to lay down arms and to begin talks with the government,” she said.
Underscoring India’s independent foreign policy, the president also spoke glowingly about India’s global nuclear deal that ended 34 years of nuclear isolation and New Delhi’s transformed relations with Washington.
“The opening of such cooperation with India is a vindication of India’s impeccable record on non-proliferation and our long-standing commitment to universal, non-discriminatory and comprehensive nuclear disarmament,” the president said while alluding to India’s re-entry into the global nuclear mainstream after the Sep 6, 2008 waiver by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG(.
“The conduct of our foreign policy has enhanced India’s stature in the world. My government’s foreign policy has been imbued with the values that our nation rests upon – of independence of thought and action, ensuring a democratic, just and equitable world order and the rule of law,” Patil said.
“India’s views on the major international issues of our times are not just heard, but are now being actively sought,” she stressed.
“My government worked actively with the international community to address key global challenges of terrorism, energy and food security, climate change and sustainable development, the global economic and financial crisis, and the reform of international institutions, including of the United Nations, to reflect contemporary realities,” the president said.