Q1. India has termed encouraging Islamabad’s response to Mumbai terror attack dossier. Do you think Pakistan is doing enough to cooperate with New Delhi in Mumbai attacks? How do you respond to Islamabad’s reply? What do you expect consequently from Pakistan?

Ans: Pakistani authorities have admitted that elements in Pakistan were involved in the terrorist attacks on Mumbai. They have arrested some persons and filed an FIR. This is a positive first step. Pakistan has also sought further information and material relating to the investigation. We will share whatever we can with Pakistan. However, the process should not be allowed to become an end in itself. We expect Pakistan to act against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack on the basis of evidence shared with her. The wider issue is dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan. Several questions arise in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. How did an already banned terrorist group (LeT alias JUD) carry out such an attack? Why did it have the latitude to do so? Are there other such groups? It is for the Government of Pakistan to answer these questions and act on them.

In general, I would like to reaffirm that this issue should not be looked through the prism of India-Pakistan relations. Terrorism is a global issue. It affects not only India, but the entire world. Terrorists have no ideology or religion. Terrorism is the biggest threat to world peace and security in the post-Cold War era. It needs to be countered firmly by the entire international community.

Q2. India for long has been calling on Pakistan to close terror camps in the country. You have also called on for Islamabad to deliver on its commitment to prevent terrorism directed at India from its territory. But your government says this belief has not lead to any tangible results so far. Where and how do you see India’s relations going with Pakistan?

Ans: Pakistan had committed to us on 6th January 2004 and on 24th September 2008, at the highest level, that it would not permit territory under its control to be used for terrorism in any manner. 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. Substantial gains, made during the last four or five years, in normalizing our relations, are at risk. Future progress in our bilateral relations depends on Pakistan’s response not only in words but also through substantive actions.

Q3: Your Army Chief, the National Security Advisor, and most importantly even the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, have said that Pakistan’s official agencies –ISI and other state actors were linked up in the Mumbai terror attacks. Do you think Pakistan must take actions against these state actors? What do you mean when you say that the case must be brought to a ‘logical conclusion’?

Ans: For us “logical conclusion” means perpetrators of terrorist acts are brought to book. Terror network and infrastructure should be dismantled completely to prevent the repetition of attacks in future. Fugitives from Indian law who are in Pakistan should be handed over. I need not repeat what has been said earlier. Surely terrorist groups cannot be allowed to flourish while we are given ‘solemn’ commitments against terrorism.

Q4: When India’s Kabul embassy was attacked, New Delhi affirmed having sufficient evidence against ISI’s involvement in the commencement of hostilities carried out by Taliban. Do you really think Pakistan establishment is in a position to crack down against ISI or any of their state actors, who may have been involved against such attacks directed at India? What is your assessment?

Ans: After the attack on our Embassy in Kabul, the Pakistan Prime Minister promised to the Prime Minister of India that he would have an independent investigation conducted into the attack. To date we have not received any response from Pakistan. I have been saying that I am not unaware of the internal complexities of Pakistan. But we cannot bear the brunt of their internal situation. It is the sovereign duty of that Government to act against those on its territory who commit terrorist acts elsewhere. That responsibility cannot be wished away.

Q5: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan is ‘fighting its battle for survival’. Don’t you think Pakistan should be given some more time, and also international community should be more sympathetic to Pakistan that is seemingly battling against the rise of radical Islamic fundamentalism, and militancy?

Ans: We have shown immense patience and exercised utmost restraint in our response despite tremendous outrage amongst our people. The issue is not of more time or of sympathy. Those factors come into play after a certain policy direction is taken. The issue is of the direction of change in Pakistan. If banned groups are not just tolerated, but allowed to flourish and if even today agreements are being reached with other banned groups, can we take it as an unambiguous position against terrorism?

Q6: There is a strong belief that international pressure, and also diplomatic compulsion against Pakistan has worked in India’s advantage. It is felt that Pakistan has responded to the dossier only under the pressure of the United States. How much of this is due to American influence really, sir?

Ans: Pakistani leaders have been saying that Pakistan is taking action not under any external pressure but in its own interest. It is not for me to comment on their sovereign decisions, or on what is triggering action there.
However, we are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from our friends in international community, including the United States. After the attacks, I have personally spoken to my counterparts in over 25 countries, and have sent a dossier of evidence to all my counterparts. We have also kept open the channel of communication with Pakistan, through our respective High Commissioners. Our approach is constructive, and is showing results.

As I have said earlier, the attacks were a cold blooded act of terrorism. Such terrorism is a global menace. If it is tackled purposefully, the entire world including Pakistan would gain.

Q7: India’s opposition parties say New Delhi has outsourced diplomacy to America. Don’t you think this could be the result of an impression being crated that India is totally dependent on Washington given its strong and ever expanding bilateral ties with the US, especially post Indo-US civilian nuclear deal?

Ans: We have an independent foreign policy, based on our national interests. Our relations with the USA, 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. Indian IT industry exports 60% of its services to the United States. We have a 2.5 million strong Indian community in the United States.

There is no question of dependence on any one country. However, it is in the common interest of the international community, to purposefully and collectively deal with pressing global issues – international terrorism, food and energy security, climate change, global financial reforms and UN reforms.

Q8: What is your thought about US President Barack Obama’s policy on the region so far? The US seems to be mounting enough pressure on Pakistan to seek their support in their global war against terrorism. Are you satisfied with Washington’s approach towards this?

Ans: President Obama's focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan in its fight against international terrorism converges in many ways with India’s own belief that elements operating from Pakistan and the Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan are the biggest source of international terrorism, which threatens the civilized world. We hope that US policies in Pakistan would be directed at the elimination of terrorist elements that have taken root in territories under Pakistan’s control and have been allowed unfettered growth over many years. We hope Pakistan will act decisively before it is too late.

Q9: Some sections within your government were apprehensive about President Obama’s policy. The very fact that President Obama equated Kashmir issue, and considered it as the root of all problems in South Asia made your government diffident. Why do you think Kashmir issue cannot be associated or linked with the issue of terrorism?

Ans: Kashmir is 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.

In the last few years, the Government of India has taken several initiatives including confidence building measures like facilitation of cross-border movement of people, trade, improved connectivity between Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) - and between India and Pakistan - with a view to creating a conducive atmosphere for the composite dialogue with Pakistan - to resolve the pending issues.

Recently, we held successful, free and fair elections in Jammu & Kashmir, where the voter turn-out was over 60%. The people of Kashmir did not heed to the boycott calls given by separatist elements. They spoke loud and clear through the ballot box, giving the separatists elements a fitting reply. They voted for peace, security and development in a democratic framework.

Q10: Kashmir remained the core issue, even when India and Pakistan decided to go ahead with their composite dialogue process. Many of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) are centric to Kashmir. The Indo-Pak peace process did achieve its purpose to an extent in bringing people from both the sides together. How do you think the negativity, and hostility, is affecting the Indo-Pak ties, post Mumbai attacks?

Ans: During the past four and half years with the Composite Dialogue process, more was achieved than in the preceding fifty years of India-Pakistan relations. We are with the people of Pakistan and we want the democratic government of Pakistan to succeed. Post Mumbai, we have deliberately not thought it fit to curtail people to people contacts or trains and road links. Nevertheless the dialogue and normalization process has suffered a setback. Our dialogue process was proceeding well because it was popular. But if Pakistan does not take credible action against terrorist groups whose sole aim is wanton destruction, it cannot be hidden from people. A negative approach cannot but lead to erosion in popular support for a dialogue process.

Q11: India under its fairly independent and non-aligned foreign policy has had exceptionally good ties with Iran and Afghanistan. The US says their focus is on Afghanistan, while India feels it is Pakistan that needs attention first. What are India’s agenda in the given situation, and why do you think the region is so important for India?

Ans: We cherish our relations with Iran and Afghanistan. They face today the same kinds of threat from terrorism as we do. It has been and it will be our endeavor to have good-neighbourly relations with all our neighbors for peaceful coexistence. The situation in the Pakistan Afghanistan border regions is a matter of great concern for us, as it is for other members of the international community. In our view the issue is of facing the threat in a united manner with as broad a unity amongst all countries as can be achieved.

Q12: Israel’s massive offence in Gaza didn’t get much attention in India. As long as Yasser Arafat was alive, he frequently visited India, and inevitably returned with the country’s unflinching support to the Palestine cause. Do you see India’s growing ties with Israel affecting its relations with the Arab world? What is your view?

Ans: Chairman Arafat is always remembered by us as a great leader of his people and a friend of India. A well-established tradition of high-level exchanges with Palestine has continued with the State visit of President Mahmoud Abbas four months ago.

Our support for the Palestinian cause has been consistent, dating back to our pre-independence days. India has always supported the peaceful resolution of the conflict in West Asia resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side and at peace with Israel. India supports the Arab Peace Initiative. India has also called for an end to the expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories and for an early and significant easing of restrictions on the free movement of persons and goods.

During the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip, we called for an immediate end to the disproportionate and condemnable use of force, particularly against civilians, and for the restoration of peace. In response to a ‘Flash Appeal’ from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the Government of India contributed US$ 1 million for humanitarian relief. At various international fora, including NAM, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, etc., India has strongly and consistently supported the Palestinian cause. We have also been in touch with our friends in the Arab world on the Palestinian issue.

I also wish to emphasize that our bilateral relations with no country is conducted at the expense of our relations with any other country. It has always been our endeavour to maintain and develop good relations with all.

Q13: India has joined hands with United Arab Emirates in counter terrorism. What makes you think that UAE can be a decisive ally of India in its fight against terrorism, and intercontinental crime?

Ans: India has close relationship with all the GCC countries, with which we hold regular consultations at the official and political levels. Counter-terrorism is one of the major issues which has been figuring during these consultations. UAE is a key transit country for international trade and travel in our region; therefore it has and is playing, a critical role in combating international terrorism. We are currently holding discussions, with UAE, to conclude an agreement/MOU for cooperation on combating terrorism, to put in place an institutional mechanism.

Q14: How do you see India’s relationship with Sri Lanka, especially in view of what has been happening in the country, where scores of civilians from Tamil origin are caught up in the gun battle… of Sri Lanka’s war against the LTTE rebels?

Ans: Sri Lanka is a close and friendly neighbour. Relationship between our two countries is multi dimensional and cuts across a range of areas and issues such as trade, culture, tourism, science & technology, people-to-people exchanges and development projects etc.

As far as the humanitarian situation in Northern Sri Lanka is concerned, the fact that civilians and internally displaced persons are caught up with the conflict is a matter of serious concern for us. I visited Sri Lanka last month to take up this matter, and indeed other issues as well, with the Sri Lankan Government. I stressed the need to ensure the safety and security of the civilians, including giving them an opportunity to come out to safe areas, expanding and respecting safe zones in the area of conflict, and ensuring that there was no shelling into the safe zones. You would recollect that after my visit, President Rajapaksa announced a 48-hour period where he had given an opportunity for these civilians to come out to safer areas.

We continue to maintain the need for a negotiated political settlement of the issues acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamil community. We have urged the Sri Lankan Government to work towards this end and start the political process urgently. We also stand ready to contribute towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation of northern Sri Lanka.

Q15. You are the senior most leader in the Congress party. Parliamentary elections in India are to be held soon. Seeing your admirable relations with the Left leaders, there is a talk that a beginning has been made to woo the Left to support the next Congress led coalition. What do you have to say?

Ans: My answer is simple. What will happen in post election scenario will depend on how the numbers add up. It is too early to speculate on this. Along with other UPA partners we are hopeful of a comfortable majority .