Post-Headley, Indo-Pak talks have new dimension

Pressuring Pakistan to put an end to terrorism as well as pressing the issue of bringing the 26/11Mumbai attackers to justice is the template India is looking at the talks’ process with its neighbour post David Headley revelations, external affairs minister SM Krishna said. Jayanth Jacob reports. 'Did not attend funeral of Headley's father'

Pressuring Pakistan to put an end to terrorism as well as pressing the issue of bringing the 26/11Mumbai attackers to justice is the template India is looking at the talks’ process with its neighbour post David Headley revelations, external affairs minister SM Krishna said.

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Krishna, who will meet his Pakistan counterpart in July in New Delhi to review the on-going talks, said the Headley trial has brought a “new dimension” to the talks. He hoped that Islamabad was doing “all that is necessary” for the safety of its “nuclear weapons” during an exclusive interview with HT at the Dar es Salaam on Friday before leaving for Nairobi.

“What Headley said during the trial (ISI’s role in Mumbai attack) corroborates what we knew. The safe havens for terrorists still exist in that country and they include the jihadi forces who target India and those who pursue the anti-India hate campaign, like Hafiz Saeed. Pakistan should fulfill its assurance given to us at the highest-level that it will not use the territory under its control for anti-India activities”, Krishna said.

When asked why the path of dialogue is followed when New Delhi finds Pakistan not doing enough on the issue of terrorism, the minister said “We’ve pursued the path of dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues in the hope that we can build a better future for both the countries.”

On what India is doing on Pakistan’s concern over the Samjhauta blast probe, the minister said, “That is not something where the executive can interfere.” “There cannot be any comparison between the Samjhota blast and the Mumbai attack,” he added.