Pakistan has not kept its word on combating terror: Mukherjee

Pakistan's failure to keep its commitment of not allowing its territory to be used for terrorism has put "at risk" the "substantial gains" made during the last few years of the Composite Dialogue process, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee has said.

In an interview to Dubai-based Khaleej Times, Mukherjee said the bilateral talks have been put on hold, with no meeting held or scheduled between the two neighbours.

He also said that the progress in bilateral relations depends on Pakistan's response to India's demand for action against terrorists based in that country.

"Our composite dialogue process, started in 2004, was premised on this commitment. Clearly, Pakistan has not kept its word. The composite dialogue process with Pakistan has been paused. No meeting has taken place and neither are any scheduled," he said.

According to Mukherjee, "substantial gains, made during the last four or five years, in normalising our relations, are at risk".

"Future progress in our bilateral relations depend on Pakistan's response, not only in words, but also through substantive actions," he told the paper.

For India, he said, "logical conclusion" means perpetrators of terrorist acts are brought to book and terror network and infrastructure dismantled completely.

Mukherjee described Pakistan's admittance that elements in the country were involved in the Mumbai terror attacks and the arrests made as "positive first steps," but said India expects its neighbour to act against the perpetrators on the basis of information shared.

He also said that India is yet to receive any response from Pakistan on the issue of an independent investigation into the bombing of New Delhi's embassy in Kabul in July last year.

"Soon after the attack on our Kabul embassy, Pakistan prime minister promised Indian prime minister that he would have an independent investigation conducted. To date we have not received any response," he said, adding,"we can't bear the
brunt of their (Pakistan's) internal situation".

Mukherjee, however, said the issue of terrorism is a "global" menace and should not be looked through the prism of India-Pakistan relations.

"... terrorism is a global issue. Terrorists have no ideology or religion. Terrorism is the biggest threat to world peace and security. It needs to be countered firmly by the entire international community," he said.

Mukherjee also expressed gratefulness "for the tremendous outpouring of support from our friends in the international
community, including the US," in putting pressure on Pakistan, following the Mumbai terror attacks.

He also maintained that India has an independent foreign policy, based on its national interests.

"Our relations with the US, as with other countries in the world, are determined by our national interests. The US is our largest trading and investment partner. The Indo-US nuclear deal is a result of the trust and confidence that the two countries repose in each other," Mukherjee said.

Pointing out at India's relation with the US, he said the Indian IT industry exports 60 per cent of its services to the US and there is a 2.5 million strong Indian community in America.

Mukherjee also reiterated Indian government's position on Kashmir as an integral part of India. "It is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, to be resolved through direct dialogue. There is no place for any third party involvement in India-Pakistan ties," he said.