NEW DELHI, July 18: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrived here on Thursday to seek a further de-escalation of the military standoff between India and Pakistan.
However, in what could be construed as a hardening of New Delhi’s stand against Straw’s eventual aim to help kick-start a dialogue between the South Asian rivals, an Indian foreign ministry spokesperson reiterated New Delhi’s demand that Islamabad be declared the hub of terrorism.
The United States has already said that it is not planning to oblige India on this point.
“Within hours of the US ruling out declaring Pakistan a terrorist state, India today asserted that the situation ‘fully warrants’ such action but said it was up to the countries concerned to take necessary steps in this regard,” Press Trust of India said.
It quoted spokesperson Nirupama Rao as saying: “As far as India is concerned, the situation, the circumstances fully warrant Pakistan being declared a state sponsor of terrorism. This is what we have been saying consistently.”
She was asked about the US statement that Washington would not declare Pakistan a terrorist state as it had been a very “stalwart ally” in the fight against terrorism.
Straw, who arrived on his third peace mission to India and Pakistan in six months, will meet External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra.
India’s concerns over “cross-border terrorism, continuation of infiltration and alleged lack of action by Pakistan would be powerfully articulated” during the parleys, PTI quoted Rao as saying.
Before flying to India, Straw told reporters in Hong Kong that there had been a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan since he last visited the region in May.
But he said a much greater easing of tensions across the Line of Control was necessary before the dialogue could start.—J.N
