The European Union’s (EU) counter-terrorism coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, said on March 10 that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is a "dangerous group" having a "global agenda", Daily Excelsior reported. "We see Lashkar-e-Toiba as a very dangerous organisation with a global agenda and not a local agenda," he explained. Apparently, referring to Pakistan he added, "It is all but a good idea to fight India with proxy through terrorist organisations." He was addressing a seminar on Yemen organised by Carnegie in Brussels (Belgium).
Coutesy :satp.org
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
India will act swiftly and decisively
India will act "swiftly and decisively" if another terrorist attack emanates from Pakistani soil, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said on Friday, urging Pakistan to "reinvent itself" as a genuine democracy and a responsible neighbour.
"If we are able to establish with a reasonable degree of certainty that another attack on India emanated from Pakistani soil, we will respond swiftly and decisively," the home minister said while addressing an event.
"It suffices to say our response will be swift and decisive," he added, in response to a a query if this also meant military action.
Pointing to Pakistan's duplicity over Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafeez Saeed, Chidambaram said, "Investigations around the world are carried out in a certain way. If Pakistan does not know how to interrogate Saeed, then they should allow my agents to go in there and do the job. I am willing to get this done."
The minister summarised how the dossiers presented to Pakistan contained information of Hafeez Saeed's specific location on certain dates, the terror camps he visited and his interaction with those suspected of launching the terror attacks in Mumbai.
"If Pakistan wants to bury its head ostrich-like, then what can we say. I'd like to believe that Pakistan has stepped back from sponsoring non-state actors, but there is no proof of that yet," Chidambaram said.
Pakistan could make a start towards convincing India of its sincerity by providing voice samples of those suspected of guiding the 26/11 terrorists from Pakistan, said Chidambaram.
But in the same breath he indicated that Pakistan had simply refused to act even though India had sent in a list of suspects.
"The voice samples can be tested in India or in a neutral country - maybe in Quantico, USA - and that would go a certain distance in helping establish what we believe - that state actors are indeed involved, but Pakistan refuses to provide us with these samples," he said.
Arguing that Pakistan had proved to be a "difficult neighbour" ever since partition and independence in 1947, Chidambaram said India's main hope was for a political transformation in Islamabad.
"It must reinvent itself...to become a truly democratic country where real power lies in democratically elected leaders' hands," he said.
"The two nations are nuclear powers, and war is not an option, so we must talk," the home minister said. "At other times, we must remain vigilant."
"We tried to make a beginning with the foreign secretary talks, but nothing came out of it, I'm afraid," Chidambaram said. "But I am told we are still open to another round of talks between the foreign secretaries."
India and Pakistan held official talks in February for the first time since the Mumbai terrorist attack of November 2008.
Describing the Feb 13 Pune terror attack as a "blot" on India's preparedness, Chidamabaram said, "If the German Bakery had taken measures and followed advisories, Pune could have been avoided. The manager of German Bakery Praveen Pant had even signed on the advisory.
"Small, low-cost measures could have been taken, but they were not. Simple things like the direction the CCTV camera was pointed out, or employing a person to check customer's bags. Any number of things could have been done."
Coutesy:IndiaTimes.
"India will act swiftly and decisively" ..hmm
Has seen statements like these before by various Indian politicians ..
Has seen numerous terror attacks in India ..
Yet to see a swift and decisive action by India,even though pakistan's involment in terror attacks in India is as evident as daylight.!
"If we are able to establish with a reasonable degree of certainty that another attack on India emanated from Pakistani soil, we will respond swiftly and decisively," the home minister said while addressing an event.
"It suffices to say our response will be swift and decisive," he added, in response to a a query if this also meant military action.
Pointing to Pakistan's duplicity over Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafeez Saeed, Chidambaram said, "Investigations around the world are carried out in a certain way. If Pakistan does not know how to interrogate Saeed, then they should allow my agents to go in there and do the job. I am willing to get this done."
The minister summarised how the dossiers presented to Pakistan contained information of Hafeez Saeed's specific location on certain dates, the terror camps he visited and his interaction with those suspected of launching the terror attacks in Mumbai.
"If Pakistan wants to bury its head ostrich-like, then what can we say. I'd like to believe that Pakistan has stepped back from sponsoring non-state actors, but there is no proof of that yet," Chidambaram said.
Pakistan could make a start towards convincing India of its sincerity by providing voice samples of those suspected of guiding the 26/11 terrorists from Pakistan, said Chidambaram.
But in the same breath he indicated that Pakistan had simply refused to act even though India had sent in a list of suspects.
"The voice samples can be tested in India or in a neutral country - maybe in Quantico, USA - and that would go a certain distance in helping establish what we believe - that state actors are indeed involved, but Pakistan refuses to provide us with these samples," he said.
Arguing that Pakistan had proved to be a "difficult neighbour" ever since partition and independence in 1947, Chidambaram said India's main hope was for a political transformation in Islamabad.
"It must reinvent itself...to become a truly democratic country where real power lies in democratically elected leaders' hands," he said.
"The two nations are nuclear powers, and war is not an option, so we must talk," the home minister said. "At other times, we must remain vigilant."
"We tried to make a beginning with the foreign secretary talks, but nothing came out of it, I'm afraid," Chidambaram said. "But I am told we are still open to another round of talks between the foreign secretaries."
India and Pakistan held official talks in February for the first time since the Mumbai terrorist attack of November 2008.
Describing the Feb 13 Pune terror attack as a "blot" on India's preparedness, Chidamabaram said, "If the German Bakery had taken measures and followed advisories, Pune could have been avoided. The manager of German Bakery Praveen Pant had even signed on the advisory.
"Small, low-cost measures could have been taken, but they were not. Simple things like the direction the CCTV camera was pointed out, or employing a person to check customer's bags. Any number of things could have been done."
Coutesy:IndiaTimes.
"India will act swiftly and decisively" ..hmm
Has seen statements like these before by various Indian politicians ..
Has seen numerous terror attacks in India ..
Yet to see a swift and decisive action by India,even though pakistan's involment in terror attacks in India is as evident as daylight.!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Continued partisan,harsh punishment
Whether it's hockey or cricket,Indian players continue to be treated very harshly.
Below is a report from timesofindia.
Former India players smelt a rat behind inform Shivendra Singh's three-match suspension, alleging that it was done intentionally to weaken the hosts ahead of their second match against Australia on Tuesday.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) tournament director Ken Read, who himself is an Australian, slapped Shivendra with a three-match suspension for deliberately hitting a Pakistani player last night even though the Zeeshan Ashraf-led side did not bring the incident to the notice of the world body.
Former India captain Zafar Iqbal criticised the decision and said such unfair rulings were not surprising for the sub-continent teams.
"It was a very harsh decision and I don't know on what basis they have given it. There was hardly any protest by the Pakistani players. The suspension for three matches is a big blow to India," Zafar said.
"It was not such a big matter, it was part of the game. The match between England and Australia was also very tough and witnessed such incident. The umpire himself has not seen it even though he was very close.
"We Asian countries always have to go thorough such incidents, there is no doubt about it. They always think that we deliberately do it," he said.
Former player Aslam Sher Khan, who was a member of the 1975 World Cup winning side, agreed with Zafar, saying it was deliberately done to down India's morale ahead of the match against Australia.
"Such a harsh decision should not have been given to Shivendra. He is one of our best strikers and his absence in the next three matches will definitely affect India. It's a big blow to us.
"I think it's a conspiracy to make us weak psychologically before the Australia match. For Australia the match against us is a do-or-die game and Shivendra's absence will definitely help them," he said.
He also said that such decisions were not new with India as the eight-time Olympic champions have faced it on many occasions before.
"They (FIH) used to do it earlier in umpiring but with the video referral system in place this time, they opted for other means," Aslam said.
Shivendra is a crucial cog in the forward-line and he opened India's account against Pakistan yesterday by scoring from a rebound.
India has appealed against the suspension and the FIH has set up a jury, which will come out with its decision by Tuesday.
India play Australia in the next Pool B match on Tuesday, followed by ties against Spain on Thursday and England on Saturday.
If this is a ploy to give Australian team an undue advantage,well,Mr.Ken Read should be given the Man of the Match,if Australia wins against India.It's funny to think that the Aussie team may not actually need this suspension for a win against India!
Below is a report from timesofindia.
Former India players smelt a rat behind inform Shivendra Singh's three-match suspension, alleging that it was done intentionally to weaken the hosts ahead of their second match against Australia on Tuesday.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) tournament director Ken Read, who himself is an Australian, slapped Shivendra with a three-match suspension for deliberately hitting a Pakistani player last night even though the Zeeshan Ashraf-led side did not bring the incident to the notice of the world body.
Former India captain Zafar Iqbal criticised the decision and said such unfair rulings were not surprising for the sub-continent teams.
"It was a very harsh decision and I don't know on what basis they have given it. There was hardly any protest by the Pakistani players. The suspension for three matches is a big blow to India," Zafar said.
"It was not such a big matter, it was part of the game. The match between England and Australia was also very tough and witnessed such incident. The umpire himself has not seen it even though he was very close.
"We Asian countries always have to go thorough such incidents, there is no doubt about it. They always think that we deliberately do it," he said.
Former player Aslam Sher Khan, who was a member of the 1975 World Cup winning side, agreed with Zafar, saying it was deliberately done to down India's morale ahead of the match against Australia.
"Such a harsh decision should not have been given to Shivendra. He is one of our best strikers and his absence in the next three matches will definitely affect India. It's a big blow to us.
"I think it's a conspiracy to make us weak psychologically before the Australia match. For Australia the match against us is a do-or-die game and Shivendra's absence will definitely help them," he said.
He also said that such decisions were not new with India as the eight-time Olympic champions have faced it on many occasions before.
"They (FIH) used to do it earlier in umpiring but with the video referral system in place this time, they opted for other means," Aslam said.
Shivendra is a crucial cog in the forward-line and he opened India's account against Pakistan yesterday by scoring from a rebound.
India has appealed against the suspension and the FIH has set up a jury, which will come out with its decision by Tuesday.
India play Australia in the next Pool B match on Tuesday, followed by ties against Spain on Thursday and England on Saturday.
If this is a ploy to give Australian team an undue advantage,well,Mr.Ken Read should be given the Man of the Match,if Australia wins against India.It's funny to think that the Aussie team may not actually need this suspension for a win against India!
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