Pakistan not doing enough in 26/11 attack case: Manmohan Singh

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Nov 23 (PTI) Accusing Pakistan of not doing
enough to bring to book the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai
terror attacks, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said
India does not know whom to deal with in Islamabad as the army
is the most powerful force in the neighbouring country.
"No, they (Pakistan) have not done enough," Singh told
CNN in an interview which was taken in Indian national capital
New Delhi and aired minutes before the Prime Minister arrived
in Washington on the first State Visit of the Obama
Administration.
"They have taken some steps. I have discussed this matter
with (Pakistan) Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, when we met
at Sharm al-Sheikh (in Egypt). The joint statement we issued,
he assured us Pakistan will do all that is possible to bring
to justice the perpetrators of Mumbai massacre," he said.
"But it is our feeling that Pakistan has not done enough.
Hafeez Saeed is roaming around freely. Maulana Azhar Masood
and other terrorist elements, the Lashkar-e-Toiba, according
to Pakistan's own admissions is actively involved in
perpetrating massacre in Mumbai, they are moving around
freely. The conspiracy took place in Pakistan," Singh said.
He said a "friendly" government in Pakistan, which would
be equally determined to tackle terrorism, would take the case
to its logical conclusion.
"That is not happening," the Prime Minister said.
Asked if he believed the Pakistani Army was serious in
tackling terrorists, Singh said he is not certain if the
military will take on those elements.
He said India does not clearly know whom to deal with in
Pakistan as the Army there was very powerful. India would like
democracy to succeed in that country, he said.
"I think the most element force in Pakistan is the army.
There is democracy. We would like democracy to succeed and
flourish in Pakistan, but we have to recognise that the power
today virtually rests with the Army," he said.
The Prime Minister said he does not think that India has
a partner in Pakistan today.
"I do not think whether we have a partner right now. I
think, when General Pervez Musharraf (was the President) I was
to ask him and he said well I am the Army, I represent the
armed forces, I represent the people. Now I do not know whom
to deal with," he said.
Contending that Pakistan's objective in Afghanistan does
does not appear to be "necessarily in harmony" with that of
the US, Singh said Islamabad wants that country to become its
"backyard".
"Pakistanis sometimes feel that the Americans are short
time maximisers that if the pressure continue, they would not
have the courage to stay there, they would walk away, that
Afghanistan would become a backyard to Pakistan to influence
its policies and programmes," he said.
Referring to the recent statement of Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton on the presence of Quetta Shoura in Pakistan,
the Prime Minister said, "That is an indication of the things
that are happening on the ground."
Singh said that he has been assured by the United States
that they are satisfied with the safety and security of the
nuclear weapons of Pakistan, but added India was worried about
"all these contingencies".
"All I can say that the rise of Taliban in Afghanistan
created a major problem in the world and that the
disappearance of the Taliban regime is indeed a blessing for
the global society," he said.
He said after being re-elected as President of
Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai has the responsibility and
obligation to harmonise and to bring together all elements who
can contribute to the reconstruction of his country.
"I hope he will rises to the occasion," he said, when
asked if enough is being done in Afghanistan. There has been
limited effort before, he said when asked if President Karzai
is taking enough measures.
"I hope all elements of the Afghan society who are
opposed to the terrorist elements can get together to give a
purposeful government to the people of Afghanistan," Singh
added. PTI LKJ
ANU