New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) Making a fresh pitch for the resumption of composite dialogue with India, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday said the two countries can't be held "hostage to one incident" of 26/11 and should revive talks as both cannot "afford war".
Even after seven dossiers given by New Delhi linking Pakistani nationals with the Mumbai attacks, Gilani has said India needs to provide more evidence about the role of Hafiz Saeed, suspected mastermind of the 26/11 attacks, and more information about the other accused, so that they may be prosecuted.
With India hardening its stand that the stalled dialogue can resume only after Pakistan takes tangible action against the 26/11 accused, Gilani contended that the refusal to engage in talks will only strengthen the hands of terrorists.
Saying that matters got "stuck" after the Mumbai terror attacks, the Pakistan prime minister said that "1.25 billion people should not be made hostage to one incident".
"If we are hostage to one incident then the beneficiaries are terrorists and therefore we should move ahead," Gilani told CNN-IBN news channel in an interview.
"I think dialogue is the only answer. We are both responsible nations and we can move forward. We can't afford war. I think only way forward is talks," he said while trying to downplay the trading of diplomatic barbs over the alleged exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.
Describing his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Sharm el-Sheikh in July last year as "very good", Gilani said that both of them "had understanding that we both are suffering from terrorism".
"There are 101 Mumbai-like incidents in Pakistan after that (26/11)," he said, adding that Pakistan faces such attacks on a daily basis.
Amid India's suspicions about the involvement of Pakistan in recent incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir and a spike in infiltration, Gilani said: "There had been some irresponsible statements from the Army Chief of India."
"There is a tension because of that and at the same time that is an indigenous movement in Kashmir that hasn't anything to do with Pakistan."
Gilani also demanded more evidence against Saeed so that Pakistani authorities can act against him. "We need further information about his role in that incident and at the same time we need more evidence to put him to task," Gilani said.
Gilani claimed that Saeed was already under trial and a decision on arresting him has to be decided by the court.
Acknowledging several dossiers given by India linking Pakistani nationals with the Mumbai mayhem, Gilani made it clear that more information was needed to build up a convincing case for penalising the perpetrators of the carnage.
"We appreciate that, but at the same time, we ask for something more, and we hope we will be getting that evidence," he said.
India has made Pakistan's action against Saeed, the chief of the outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawa, an Islamic charity that served as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a touchstone of Islamabad's sincerity in bringing the Mumbai attackers to justice.
New Delhi has also made it clear many a time that it has given sufficient evidence to Islamabad to prosecute Saeed, a demagogue known for his virulent anti-India speeches.
A day after Pakistani investigators admitted the LeT's role in the 26/11 attacks, Home Minister P. Chidambaram Thursday said that LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi is only one of the 26/11 masterminds and that there are other masterminds, a veiled reference to Pakistan dragging its feet on Saeed.
Tense subcontinental ties detract from war on terror: Nawaz
Islamabad, Jan 28 (IANS) Tense subcontinental ties will detract from Pakistan's war against terror on its western borders, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said Thursday.
"Prosperity of the people of India and Pakistan and sustainable peace and stability in the region can be ensured only if both countries enjoy good relations," Online news agency quoted Sharif as telling Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader's country villa at Raiwand on the outskirts of Lahore.
"Both the countries need to resolve the disputed issues, especially the Kashmir issue, with meaningful dialogue," he added.
According to Sharif, the political leadership of India and Pakistan must take serious initiatives for resuming the composite dialogue process.
Pakistan-India relations, revival of the composite dialogue and the regional situation were among the topics discussed during the meeting.
Sabharwal said that the government and people of India want cordial and friendly relations, adding that both countries have to solve their issues through the dialogue process after revival of confidence building measures.
Pakistan victim of terror, faced 101 Mumbai-like incidents: Gilani
New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has said his country was a victim of terrorism with "101 Mumbai-like incidents" taking place and asked India to resume dialogue as both the countries "cannot afford war".
"There are 101 Mumbai-like incident in Pakistan after that. Dialogue is the only answer. We are both responsible nations. We can only move forward. We cannot afford war. The only way forward is talks," Gilani said in an interview to CNN-IBN television channel broadcast Thursday.
India had stopped all dialogue with Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, with the Indian government alleging that the terror conspiracy was hatched on Pakistani soil.
Pakistan has recently brought charges against seven accused for the Mumbai attack but not against Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafez Saeed, whom India accuses of being the main conspirator.
"He is already under trial. In fact it has to be decided by the court," Gilani said, denying that Pakistan was dragging its feet.
"We needed further information about that incident and at the same time we need more evidence to put him to task," Gilani said, reiterating Pakistan's stance that there was not enough information for a strong case against Saeed.
"In fact, we had asked for further info, so that we should strengthen the case. We have already registered the case. The matter is sub-judice in the Lahore High Court."
Gilani also reacted to the statement by US Defence secretary Robert Gates that India may not be as patient with Pakistan, if another Mumbai-like incident were to happen.
"I was of the opinion when I talked to Gates, if there is any credible information, we are ready to share with india. That should be pre-empted before time, not after that. If India has any information, they can share with us. We are ready to share any intelligence or any sort of info. We are ready to support you," he said.
Gilani also reacted to recent comments by Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram that India does not accept the argument of non-state actors being solely responsible for the attacks.
"If you have any information, instead of saying that we will bracket the (Pakistan) government with it (non-state actors), it is better that you share it with us so that we jointly resolve the issue," he said.
Gilani urged India to restart the dialogue process.
He referred to the joint statement issued together after the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt on the sidelines of non-aligned leaders' summit in 2009.
"That was a very good meeting. We discussed all issues. And we had (an) understanding that we both are suffering from terrorism," Gilani said.
The Pakistani leader said that "1.25 billion should not be made hostage to one incident".
"So (if) we are hostage to this incident, then the beneficiary is the terrorist. Therefore, we should move forward".
"Certainly, we condemn terrorism and we always believe that neither Pakistani or Indian soil to be used against each other. We are the victims of terrorism. You know how we are fighting the war on terrorism," asserted Gilani.
Even after seven dossiers given by New Delhi linking Pakistani nationals with the Mumbai attacks, Gilani has said India needs to provide more evidence about the role of Hafiz Saeed, suspected mastermind of the 26/11 attacks, and more information about the other accused, so that they may be prosecuted.
With India hardening its stand that the stalled dialogue can resume only after Pakistan takes tangible action against the 26/11 accused, Gilani contended that the refusal to engage in talks will only strengthen the hands of terrorists.
Saying that matters got "stuck" after the Mumbai terror attacks, the Pakistan prime minister said that "1.25 billion people should not be made hostage to one incident".
"If we are hostage to one incident then the beneficiaries are terrorists and therefore we should move ahead," Gilani told CNN-IBN news channel in an interview.
"I think dialogue is the only answer. We are both responsible nations and we can move forward. We can't afford war. I think only way forward is talks," he said while trying to downplay the trading of diplomatic barbs over the alleged exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.
Describing his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Sharm el-Sheikh in July last year as "very good", Gilani said that both of them "had understanding that we both are suffering from terrorism".
"There are 101 Mumbai-like incidents in Pakistan after that (26/11)," he said, adding that Pakistan faces such attacks on a daily basis.
Amid India's suspicions about the involvement of Pakistan in recent incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir and a spike in infiltration, Gilani said: "There had been some irresponsible statements from the Army Chief of India."
"There is a tension because of that and at the same time that is an indigenous movement in Kashmir that hasn't anything to do with Pakistan."
Gilani also demanded more evidence against Saeed so that Pakistani authorities can act against him. "We need further information about his role in that incident and at the same time we need more evidence to put him to task," Gilani said.
Gilani claimed that Saeed was already under trial and a decision on arresting him has to be decided by the court.
Acknowledging several dossiers given by India linking Pakistani nationals with the Mumbai mayhem, Gilani made it clear that more information was needed to build up a convincing case for penalising the perpetrators of the carnage.
"We appreciate that, but at the same time, we ask for something more, and we hope we will be getting that evidence," he said.
India has made Pakistan's action against Saeed, the chief of the outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawa, an Islamic charity that served as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a touchstone of Islamabad's sincerity in bringing the Mumbai attackers to justice.
New Delhi has also made it clear many a time that it has given sufficient evidence to Islamabad to prosecute Saeed, a demagogue known for his virulent anti-India speeches.
A day after Pakistani investigators admitted the LeT's role in the 26/11 attacks, Home Minister P. Chidambaram Thursday said that LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi is only one of the 26/11 masterminds and that there are other masterminds, a veiled reference to Pakistan dragging its feet on Saeed.
Tense subcontinental ties detract from war on terror: Nawaz
Islamabad, Jan 28 (IANS) Tense subcontinental ties will detract from Pakistan's war against terror on its western borders, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said Thursday.
"Prosperity of the people of India and Pakistan and sustainable peace and stability in the region can be ensured only if both countries enjoy good relations," Online news agency quoted Sharif as telling Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader's country villa at Raiwand on the outskirts of Lahore.
"Both the countries need to resolve the disputed issues, especially the Kashmir issue, with meaningful dialogue," he added.
According to Sharif, the political leadership of India and Pakistan must take serious initiatives for resuming the composite dialogue process.
Pakistan-India relations, revival of the composite dialogue and the regional situation were among the topics discussed during the meeting.
Sabharwal said that the government and people of India want cordial and friendly relations, adding that both countries have to solve their issues through the dialogue process after revival of confidence building measures.
Pakistan victim of terror, faced 101 Mumbai-like incidents: Gilani
New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has said his country was a victim of terrorism with "101 Mumbai-like incidents" taking place and asked India to resume dialogue as both the countries "cannot afford war".
"There are 101 Mumbai-like incident in Pakistan after that. Dialogue is the only answer. We are both responsible nations. We can only move forward. We cannot afford war. The only way forward is talks," Gilani said in an interview to CNN-IBN television channel broadcast Thursday.
India had stopped all dialogue with Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, with the Indian government alleging that the terror conspiracy was hatched on Pakistani soil.
Pakistan has recently brought charges against seven accused for the Mumbai attack but not against Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafez Saeed, whom India accuses of being the main conspirator.
"He is already under trial. In fact it has to be decided by the court," Gilani said, denying that Pakistan was dragging its feet.
"We needed further information about that incident and at the same time we need more evidence to put him to task," Gilani said, reiterating Pakistan's stance that there was not enough information for a strong case against Saeed.
"In fact, we had asked for further info, so that we should strengthen the case. We have already registered the case. The matter is sub-judice in the Lahore High Court."
Gilani also reacted to the statement by US Defence secretary Robert Gates that India may not be as patient with Pakistan, if another Mumbai-like incident were to happen.
"I was of the opinion when I talked to Gates, if there is any credible information, we are ready to share with india. That should be pre-empted before time, not after that. If India has any information, they can share with us. We are ready to share any intelligence or any sort of info. We are ready to support you," he said.
Gilani also reacted to recent comments by Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram that India does not accept the argument of non-state actors being solely responsible for the attacks.
"If you have any information, instead of saying that we will bracket the (Pakistan) government with it (non-state actors), it is better that you share it with us so that we jointly resolve the issue," he said.
Gilani urged India to restart the dialogue process.
He referred to the joint statement issued together after the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt on the sidelines of non-aligned leaders' summit in 2009.
"That was a very good meeting. We discussed all issues. And we had (an) understanding that we both are suffering from terrorism," Gilani said.
The Pakistani leader said that "1.25 billion should not be made hostage to one incident".
"So (if) we are hostage to this incident, then the beneficiary is the terrorist. Therefore, we should move forward".
"Certainly, we condemn terrorism and we always believe that neither Pakistani or Indian soil to be used against each other. We are the victims of terrorism. You know how we are fighting the war on terrorism," asserted Gilani.
