NEW DELHI : Accusing the UPA government of adopting a ‘flip-flop policy’ against Pakistan on terrorism, the BJP today said the neighbouring country needs to be conveyed in very ‘unmistakable terms’ that no worthwhile dialogue is possible unless it delivers on its commitment to take action against terror elements operating from across the border.
“It is now five years that terrorists from Pakistan struck at Mumbai well known as 26/11 in which 166 people including foreigners were brutally killed. Except the punishment of Ajmal Amir Kasab who was arrested on the spot not even a single conspirator from Pakistan was punished,” senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.
He said in spite of arrest of five conspirators in Pakistan who planned, executed and financed the 26/11 strike — Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum, Pakistan has ensured that their trial was completely frustrated.
The BJP leader said Pakistan has not taken any action against Lashkar-e-Toiba founder Hafiz Saeed who was one of the main masterminds behind the Mumbai attack.
Mr Prasad said Saeed was publicly allowed to hold a rally in Lahore to condemn India and instigate terrorists.
“India has given about a dozen dossiers to Pakistan against these terrorists, allowed their commission to come to India many times and even cross examine witnesses. In spite of all these repeated prosecutors have been changed and now it is being publicly alleged that the evidence is not sufficient,” the BJP Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha said.
He said it was becoming increasingly clear that Pakistan does not want to proceed because the entire conspiracy had blessings and patronage of elements of Pakistani establishment.
Mr Prasad said Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s statement in the light of all this was “grossly indifferent”.
He also claimed that Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid was making “routine pro-forma noise”.
Mr Prasad commented that the whole strategy of the UPA government has been full of ‘flip-flop’.
He said the very well deserved diplomatic victory of India in the shape of January 4, 2004 agreement between then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Parvez Musharaff; “where Pakistan for the first time acknowledged that it shall not allow its territory for terror against India, was completely ‘ignored”.
“…And there was shame in Shermal Sheikh when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said action against terrorism will not be linked to dialogue. We are suffering the consequence of this ill conceived approach,” Mr Prasad said.
The BJP leader said the ‘determination’ for a dialogue and that too at high level regardless of any action by Pakistan against the terrorists who masterminded 26/11 was not only ‘baffling’ but goes against the very spirit of January 4, 2004 agreement.
“Pakistan needs to be conveyed in very unmistakable terms that no worthwhile dialogue is possible unless you deliver on your commitment to take action and show it.
“The Government of India must understand that it owes it to the people of the country to get all the conspirators and planners punished. Inaction, infiltration by Pakistan and dialogue obliviously cannot go together,” he added. (agencies)
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