India today dubbed as "most ridiculous" and irrational the allegation by Pakistan that it was funding Taliban. External affairs minister SM Krishna said India considers Taliban as a dreaded terror outfit, and wants Pakistan to take action against it along with other groups like Laskar-e-Toiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).
"This is the most ridiculous statement I have heard," he told reporters when asked about his reaction to the allegation by Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik that India is funding Taliban. To a question he said, "When such irrational statements are made we take up (with Pakistan) through diplomatic channels."
The minister said India has asked Pakistan to act against terror groups like Laskar-e-Toiba and JuD which change names but "breed terror". Referring to Mumbai attack, he said the six people arrested in Pakistan as well as the lone terrorist Ajmal Kasab held here, had admitted that they were Pakistani nationals and hatched the conspiracy from that country.
Krishna noted that India had given six dossiers containing "all evidence that we were able to collect" on Mumbai attack with the hope that Pakistan will investigate further on the basis of it. He said if Pakistan brings to book the perpetrators of Mumbai attack we will be satisfied.
Talking about the two terror attacks on the India embassy in Kabul since last year, Krishna said a preliminary investigation by the Afghan government indicated that these were conducted by "outsiders not by those who live in Afghanistan." He referred to today's attack on a UN guest house in Kabul and said "we are shocked." He said India conveys deepest sympathies to the UN official affected by the attack.
The minister said India will continue to pursue developmental activities in Afghanistan to help build the capacity of the Afghan government and its people. He said India's constructive role in Afghanistan has come in for praise from international community.
