Anti-India terror groups exist in Pakistan: Boucher
By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 7: The United States on Monday acknowledged that certain terrorist groups having “designs” against India still exist in Pakistan but it also expressed the hope that peace talks between the two neighbours would resume at an appropriate time anyway.
US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, who had earlier said that India had no evidence to accuse Pakistan for the Mumbai blasts, said in an interaction with Indian MPs and business captains here that “things have advanced” since he made the remarks weeks ago.
“We all know there is terrorism in the region. Some of terrorism is in Pakistan. Some of the groups that have designs against India still have pieces in Pakistan,” he was quoted by ZeeNews channel as saying.
In his talks with Indian officials the two sides felt the need to fight terrorism at “all places and in all its forms...When it comes to terrorism, there is lot more work to do.”
ZeeNews said Mr Boucher stopped short of directly pointing an accusing finger at Pakistan.
“I don‘t see the issue of Kashmir and terrorism linked in anyway,” Mr Boucher said. “We need all to fight terrorism for variety of reasons. But it is also good to see progress made on Kashmir. We would like to see that as well.”
He said the governments in India and Pakistan had taken steps with regard to Kashmir and added that the United States would “certainly welcome” continuation of that dialogue.
Pakistan has “turned against terrorism”, Mr Boucher said. He noted that terror incidents had taken place there as well as in India and Bangladesh.
“We all have not yet finished the job. There is lot more work to do,” he said.
The United States had been watching the situation closely after Mumbai blasts. “I think we understand the (India-Pakistan) Foreign Secretary talks being postponed.”
But he also termed as positive the comments made by foreign Secretary Shyam Saran after his informal meeting with his Pakistan counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan in Dhaka last week.
“Both sides have in mind that at an appropriate point they will decide that they will be able to get back to discussions,” he said.
There had been a lot of positive developments like confidence-building measures in India-Pakistan relations in the recent years. Mr Boucher said that people had thrown up “lot more ideas that might help find a solution in Kashmir”.
