India calls on Pakistan to take concrete action against terrorism
Speaking on Independence Day, Indian PM Singh insists on the necessity to cooperate for a lasting peace. New Delhi is convinced that Islamic terrorists are crossing into its territory from Pakistan.
New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began Independence Day celebrations with a call to Pakistan to stop militants from crossing the border between the two countries. Mr Singh noted that an "environment of peace" was needed for the nuclear-armed neighbours to establish lasting peace in the Indian subcontinent.
"Unless Pakistan takes concrete steps to implement the solemn assurances it has given to prevent cross-border terrorism against India from any territory within its control, public opinion in India, which has supported the peace process, will be undermined," he explained.
In recent months India has experienced several major terrorist attacks. Thousands of policemen patrolled the streets of the country's cities during Independence Day celebrations amid fears militants could try to disrupt them and a US warning of possible strikes by al-Qaeda.
Islamic rebels fighting India's rule in divided Kashmir were blamed for deadly train bombings in Mumbai which killed 183 people in July and for serial bombings in New Delhi markets before a major Hindu festival in October last year that killed more than 60 people.
India has accused Pakistan of sponsoring the militants, a claim which Islamabad vehemently denies.
"All countries in our region must recognise that terrorism anywhere is a threat to peace and prosperity everywhere and it must be confronted with our united efforts," the Indian prime minister said from a bullet-proof enclosure.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they both gained independence from Great Britain in August 1947. Two of them were fought over Kashmir which they both control in part and claim in full.
A peace process launched in 2004 has yet to address the core issue of Kashmir. It ground to a halt after the Mumbai bombings, but a meeting between the foreign secretaries of the two countries on the sidelines of a regional summit in Dhaka earlier this month revived hopes of a new round of talks.
On Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that defeating terrorism is necessary to his country's future. (PB)
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