Pak asks India to share info to help pre-empt any terror act

Pakistan today reacted to prime minister Manmohan Singh's remarks on terror groups planning fresh attacks on India from Pakistani soil by saying that New Delhi should share such information with Islamabad to help "pre-empt any act of terror".

Pakistan's response to Singh's comments was conveyed by Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi, Director General (South Asia) in the Foreign Office, to India's acting Deputy High Commissioner during a meeting this evening.

"In all sincerity, we would request India to share information that they have and for our part we stand ready to cooperate fully in pre-empting any act of terror," Hashmi was quoted as telling the Indian diplomat in a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesman.

Hashmi said the Indian prime minister's remarks "warrant serious and prompt attention" and the government of Pakistan "would like to extend its fullest cooperation to pre-empt any act of terror".

He also said terrorism is a "common enemy" of the two countries and "Pakistan has itself been a victim of terrorism".

Hashmi noted that during the meeting between the Indian and Pakistani premiers at Sharm el-Sheikh last month, both sides had agreed that the "two countries will share real time, credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats".

"Terrorism can only be combated by serious, sustained and pragmatic cooperation. We wish to renew our offer of cooperation to India in this regard," he said.

Earlier in the day, minister of State for Information Sumsam Ali Bukhari told reporters in Karachi that Singh's remarks were uncalled for as the two countries were progressing towards better relations.

"I think (Singh's) statement was uncalled for and it would have been better if he had not made such a statement because Pakistan and India are moving towards better relations, especially after the meetings (between the Indian premier and president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani)," he said.

Pakistan wants to work with the world in tackling terrorism and militancy, he said. "Whether it is our neighbours or distant countries, we want peace in the whole world. Islam is a religion of peace and gives a message of peace," Bukhari added.

In his address at a conference on internal security in New Delhi, Singh said: "There is credible information of ongoing plans of terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out fresh attacks." He also described a surge in infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir this year as "disturbing".