Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said India could resume dialogue with Pakistan on all issues if "concrete" and "effective" action is taken against those behind the Mumbai terror strikes but made it clear that there was no need for the US or any other country to get involved in the Indo-Pak affairs.
Singh made known his dissatisfaction over insufficient action by Pakistan with regard to those behind 26/11 as he said that several of the "conspirators", including Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, were still roaming about freely.
Addressing a press conference here, he rejected Pakistan's contention that there was not enough evidence to act against Saeed and said the proof, even that gathered by American agencies, was already in public domain and there was no need to give any more.
Singh, who conveyed to President Barack Obama India's unhappiness over Pakistan's attitude on dealing with terrorism and particularly named Saeed and al-Qaida leader Ilyas Kashmiri in this regard, hoped that the points he raised would "weigh considerably" on the US government.
Disagreeing that he had taken "complaint" against Pakistant to Obama, he said he had to "explain" India's perspective, which is an "open secret", whenever anyone asks at meetings about the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan.
"We have said more than once that Pakistan, if it takes credible steps to bring the perpetrators of the horrible crime of 26/11 to book... that's the minimum we expect from Pakistan and if Pakistan does that, we would be very happy to talk to them and beginning talking to them once again on all our issues," Singh said.
When pointed out that Pakistan was already prosecuting seven terrorists in connection with 26/11, the Prime Minister said there were "other people" named in the conspiracy who were "roaming about freely" in Pakistan.
"That is the reality and these are facts which are brought about, not only by our intelligence agencies, but by intelligence agencies of friendly countries. We want Pakistan to at least bring those people to book and do it effectively."
Singh rejected Pakistan's contention that there was not enough evidence to act against Hafiz Saeed and others blamed for 26/11 attacks, saying proof was already in public domain and there was no need to give any more.
Singh, who had two brief encounters with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Nuclear Security Summit, said India could resume dialogue with Pakistan on all issues if "concrete" and "effective" action is taken against those behind the Mumbai terror strikes.
He also made it clear that there was no need for the US or any other country to get involved in Indo-Pak affairs.
"First of all, I do not see the need for any further evidence about the role of Lashkar-e-Taiba," he told a press conference when asked to comment on Gilani's contention that Pakistan did not have enough evidence to act against LeT leaders like Saeed.
Singh said he hated to "enter into an argument" with Gilani at a press conference and added: "I think the American intelligence and the Americans forces have been saying and pointed out the role of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the link of Lashkar-e-Taiba with al-Qaeda.
"So I do not see there is any need for me to provide any additional evidence to Prime Minister Gilani about the role of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hafeez Saeed, Illyas Kashmiri, Zaki-ur-Rahman, are names with regard to fanning of terrorism directed against (India)."
"We have said more than once that Pakistan, if it takes credible steps to bring the perpetrators of the horrible crime of 26/11 to book... that's the minimum we expect from Pakistan and if Pakistan does that, we would be very happy to talk to them and beginning talking to them once again on all our issues," Singh said.
When pointed out that Pakistan was already prosecuting seven terrorists in connection with 26/11 strikes, the Prime Minister said there were "other people" named in the conspiracy who were "roaming about freely" in Pakistan.
"That is the reality and these are facts which are brought about, not only by our intelligence agencies, but by intelligence agencies of friendly countries. We want Pakistan to at least bring those people to book and do it effectively."
India has put the composite dialogue on hold since the Mumbai attacks and refused to resume it till Pakistan punishes all those behind the carnage. At India's initiative, the two countries held Foreign Secretary-level talks in February to discuss the issue of cross-border terrorism hurting India.
However, India has ruled out resumption of composite dialogue till it is satisfied with action Pakistan takes against perpetrators of Mumbai attacks.
Asked about his two encounters with Gilani here, Singh said he complimented the Pakistani Premier on the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill which "I think makes the Prime Minister more powerful personality in Pakistan's political system." "We did not have discussion on any other issue," he said.
To a question about Obama telling him that tensions between India and Pakistan should be reduced, Singh said "I believe the issues in South Asia can be resolved and should be resolved by meaningful bilateral dialogue. I do not think there is any need for a outside force to come in play." PTI
