By SUNIL Sonkar
WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said while expressing his concern about rise of terrorism in Pakistan that India would like the US to use its influence with Pakistan government to stop using terror as an instrument of state policy.
In an interview here in New Delhi to Newsweek-Washington Post Dr. Singh said, “We have been the victims of Pakistan-aided, -abetted and -inspired terrorism for nearly 25 years.” He said this ahead of his United State visit. Singh has been scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama on November 24.
In the interview which is to be published on Sunday he said, “We would like the United States to use all its influence with Pakistan to desist from that path.”
He also added, “Pakistan has nothing to fear from India. It’s a tragedy that Pakistan has come to the point of using terror as an instrument of state policy.”
PM continued by saying, “We are committed to resolve all the outstanding issues with Pakistan through bilateral negotiations… Our only condition is that Pakistan should not allow its territory to be used for acts of terrorism against India.”
Referring to his talk with the former President of Pakistan Gen Pervez Musharraf, Manmohan Singh said, “If Pakistan really honours that commitment, we can go back to negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues between us.”
Referring to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack he said, “If you look at Mumbai, the Pakistanis apparently were not honouring the agreement.”
He added further, “As far as the perpetrators of the Mumbai massacre are concerned, [Pakistan] has taken some steps but not enough.”
When Singh was asked whether he was worried about another such 26/11, he said, “Every day I receive intelligence reports saying that terrorists based in Pakistan are planning other similar acts.”
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