December 24, 2001	Monday	Shawwal 8, 1422

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NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh said on Sunday that New Delhi would decide on a “final response” to Pakistan after Christmas.

“A final response to Pakistan will be taken after Christmas when the cabinet committee meets again,” Singh told reporters after emerging from a two-hour meeting held at the Indian premier’s residence.

ADVANI: Indian Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani will ask the United States

to identify Pakistan as a “terrorist state” during a visit next month to Washington, he said in an interview published on Sunday.

“I will obviously communicate our position and the detailed evidence we have. This leaves no doubt that Pakistan is a terrorist state,” Advani said in an interview with the Hindustan Times.

“I feel that the US has a clear choice and it cannot afford to have double standards. All terrorists are the same.”

He said he had told US Secretary of State Colin Powell that it was difficult for the Indian public to understand how Pakistan is part of the US-led “coalition against terrorism”.

“There is a terrible dichotomy there,” Advani said.—AFP