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International pressure has mounted
on Pakistan: Omar Abdullah

Sumir Kaul in New Delhi

Asserting that international pressure on Pakistan had increased manifold to stop cross-border terrorism, India on Thursday said tensions in the region would come down automatically once Islamabad "dismantles its machine of terror."

"We have asked Islamabad to put an end to the terror machine operating from its soil and part of Kashmir illegally occupied by it, what is that Pakistan is waiting for now? It should do so and come to the negotiating table," Union Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah said.

Abdullah, who accompanied Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Kazakhstan to attend the summit meeting on security in Asia, said: "It is an irony that when we talk of infiltration, Pakistan reacts sharply but when other nations like the United States ask it to put an end (to terrorism), Islamabad regime goes into hiding."

"After all, the world leaders are asking for what our prime minister is demanding. Such diverse approaches to a similar demand show that Islamabad is not serious about de-escalating tension along the border," the minister said.

Abdullah said that during the meetings Vajpayee had with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Jiang Zemin, it was encouraging to know that they all were keen on eradicating terrorism.

"The two world leaders shared our perception about putting an end to terrorism," he said.

Abdullah rubbished the demand of Pakistan that New Delhi should formally moot its proposal for joint patrolling of the Line of Control in bilateral talks and said the prime minister had conveyed the proposal in the knowledge of several world leaders present in Almaty. "I wonder why Pakistan is having such a dilly-dally attitude to a simple proposal," he added.

The minister said "if Pakistan has nothing to hide, then why it is shying away from a joint patrolling along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir?"

Abdullah said Pakistan would have to give up its approach "of eating the cake and having it too" and say clearly whether it was interested in reducing tensions.

To a question why India does not agree to a neutral observer like the United Nations to monitor the infiltration along the LoC, Abdullah shot back, "Why should we? We have a proposal for joint patrolling with Pakistani forces. It is Islamabad which is hiding something by not agreeing and not us."

Abdullah said as far as the question of the role of international community was concerned, "they have no role to play in issues between India and Pakistan. We are not averse to talks but Islamabad lacks sincerity."

Referring to Pakistan's demand for more evidence on the list of 20 terrorists and criminals wanted by India, Abdullah said: "I don't know whom they are trying to fool. Out of the 20, 13 have an Interpol red corner notice pending against them. What else do they want?"

PTI

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