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India gives an earful to Pakistani envoy

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

India has told Pakistan that 'its patience' regarding Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism was 'totally exhausted' and that 'no one in India was taking the possibility of war lightly anymore', ministry of external affairs spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said on Wednesday.

Briefing reporters on the 30-minute meeting between Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer and Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi following a courtesy call by the latter, Rao pointed out that she (Iyer) conveyed India's disappointment regarding Pakistan's approach to violence and cross-border terrorism.

She quoted Iyer as telling Qazi that 'it (cross-border terrorism) is totally unacceptable'.

She said, "The Indian leadership, on the contrary, had taken steps for peace and cooperation with Pakistan."

"Despite this, the basic attitude of hate (of Pakistan) was reflected in its promotion of cross-border terrorism," the MEA spokeswoman said.

She said that the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament last year was a 'watershed', which witnessed the 'escalation of the Indian people's anger'.

Rao said India's tolerance of cross-border terrorism had only encouraged Pakistan to pursue it with greater intensity.

She said that even the international community was not willing to accept that Pakistan was not fanning terrorism in India.

She said that the foreign secretary also told Qazi about the empty promises made by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on fighting terrorism.

Iyer pointed out to Qazi Pakistan's lack of action on the list of 20 terrorists wanted by India, and given to Pakistan.

While Rao did not say what the Pakistan high commissioner's response to Iyer was, MEA sources told rediff.com that Qazi rejected all of the foreign secretary's charges, dismissing them as 'figment of imagination' and 'lacking proof'.

Qazi is returning to Islamabad on Saturday.

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