Will walk extra mile if Pak acts against 26/11 culprits: India

PTI | By, New York
Updated on: Oct 16, 2009 11:46 am IST

India is prepared to walk the "extra mile" to normalise relations with Pakistan if it takes action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks and dismantles terrorism infrastructure, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has said.

India is prepared to walk the "extra mile" to normalise relations with Pakistan if it takes action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks and dismantles terrorism infrastructure, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has said.

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Tharoor, who is on a visit in New York, said India was not interested in an environment of conflict and hostility with its neighbour and asked Pakistan to step up efforts to combat terrorism in a "holistic way".

"The action that is expected from Pakistan has to take place before we can engage once again in the kind of comprehensive dialogue process that we want," he told PTI in New York.

"We are prepared to walk the extra mile but the first step should come from them because what happened in Mumbai
came from their side," the former UN diplomat said.

He also recalled Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in July that India would meet Pakistan more than
half way if it took decisive action against terrorism.

Tharoor also said India is "certainly disappointed" on the lack of progress in any action against JuD chief Hafiz
Mohammed Saeed and in the Mumbai attack case in Pakistan.

Based on the testimony given by Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive during the 26/11 attacks, Tharoor said India believes that Saaed had masterminded the strikes, "given exaltation and operational guidance to the killers".

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Check for Real-time updates on India News, Weather Today, Latest News on Hindustan Times.
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