Author: Sandhya Sharma
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 3, 2011
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/336005/Cautious-PM-avoids-mention-of-PoK-camps.html
New Delhi reacted to the killing of Al Qaeda
chief Osama bin Laden to underscore the fact that Pakistan was safe haven
for terrorists, though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh refrained from making
any direct reference to the shelter provided by the neighbours to India's
wanted terrorist or the terror camp operating in PoK.
The PM's 'cautious' reaction was in sharp
contrast to remarks by foreign minister SM Krishna and Home minister P Chidambaram
who described Pakistan as hub of terror and called for international action
against the terror sanctuaries flourishing across the border.
Terming Osama's killing a "historic development
and victorious milestone in the global war against the forces of terrorism",
Foreign Minister SM Krishna called on a joint effort to eliminate safe havens
provided to terrorists within Pakistan.
"The world must not let down its united
effort to overcome terrorism and eliminate the safe havens and sanctuaries
that have been provided to terrorists in our own neighbourhood. The struggle
must continue unabated," Krishna said in a statement.
P Chidambram said the presence of Osama in
Pakistan has exposed the duplicity of Pakistan's war against terrorism and
has strongly pointed to the world that deadly terrorists still find safe haven
in Pakistan.
"This fact underlines our concern that
terrorists belonging to different organisations find sanctuary in Pakistan,"
Home Minister P Chidambaram said in an official statement.
"We take note with grave concern that
part of the statement in which President Obama said that the fire fight in
which Osama Bin Laden was killed, took place in Abbotabad 'deep inside Pakistan'."
On the other hand, the PM welcomed the development
calling it a "significant step forward and hope that it will deal a decisive
blow to Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups."
India has called "the international community
and Pakistan in particular" to work comprehensively to end the activities
of all such groups who threaten civilised behaviour and kill innocent men,
women and children. "We once again call upon the Government of Pakistan
to arrest the persons whose names have been handed over to the Interior Minister
of Pakistan', as well as provide voice samples of certain persons who are
suspected to be among the controllers and handlers of the terrorists,"
Chidambram said.
"After the September 11, 2001, terror
attack, the US had a reason to seek bin Laden and bring him and his accomplices
to justice," Chidambram said.