New Delhi, October 19
Home Minister L.K. Advani today ruled out for now the hot pursuit option to crush terrorist training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) but said the government would continue to be pro-active in its efforts to curb militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

“In international law, it is legitimate that if anyone attacks you, you have the right to hot pursuit. But we have avoided that until now and at the present point of time, we do not propose to do it,” he said.

“The pro-active policy will continue, which means we will not be looking for terrorists to strike first. We will certainly go all out for them,” Mr Advani told members of the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) here.

Mr Advani made it clear that while India did not ‘cavil’ if Pakistan’s support helped the success of the current campaign against terrorism, the USA and other nations in the international coalition must ensure that those who were part of this war against terrorism were themselves not guilty of harbouring terrorists.

“I could see that the USA, in this present phase, is keen to have Pakistan on its side. The reason for that is understandable; geography and strategy dictates it....Therefore, we do not cavil at Pakistan’s support to this campaign against global terrorism. But at the same time the USA and other nations in the international coalition must ensure that those who are part of this war against terror are themselves not guilty of providing a safe haven to terrorists, hijackers and organisers of terrorist camps,” Mr Advani said.

In this context, Mr Advani said, New Delhi had already given the Interpol a long list of those who had been guilty of terrorist actions in India, were absconding from the Indian law and had been provided asylum in Pakistan.

Stating that there was ample intelligence and analytical evidence to show that the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which had provided a safe haven to Osama bin Laden and others of the Al-Qaida network on its soil, was the creation of the ISI of Pakistan and the very same ISI had also been the planner, instigator and supporter of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India, the Home Minister said: “It is, therefore, disingenuous for Pakistan to now claim to be an ally of the international community in the fight against terrorism.”

He quoted the US State Department’s “Report 2000 on Global Terrorism”, released in April this year by U S Secretary of State Colin Powell, which pointed out that in South Asia, the USA had been increasingly concerned about the reports of the Pakistani support to terrorist groups and elements in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Pakistani support to terrorist groups and elements, especially military support to Taliban, which continued to harbour terrorist groups, including the Al-Qaida, the Egyptian Islamic Jehad and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

“The report also held Pakistan responsible for increased support to the Taliban and for continued support to militant groups operating in Indian-held Kashmir, some of which are engaged in terrorism. This is not an Indian report, this is US State Department’s report, which confirms all that the Indian Government has been saying,” he said, asserting that “the earnest attempt on the part of the world to eliminate terrorism should cover all its aspects and it should not be merely an attempt to avenge the September 11 terror attacks.”

Stating that September 11 terror attacks were more than cross-border terrorism and more than a proxy war, Mr Advani said the new manifestation of international terrorism, being fought in the name of Islam, was a challenge to human civilisation.

“We, in India, have repeatedly emphasised, both before and after September 11, that our fight is against terrorism and not against Islam and this is also the stand taken by all countries that have now forged an international coalition against terrorism,” he said.

The Home Minister also dismissed the view that what was happening in Jammu and Kashmir today had people’s support. “I don’t subscribe to the view that what is happening in Jammu and Kashmir today is, in anyway, doing of the people of the state, who are very unhappy because they survive only on tourism and tourism has dried up due to terrorism...It is a mistaken notion that people are behind it.”

On the threat by the Jaish-e-Mohammad and several other terrorists outfits to attacks India in a big way and also on the threat of chemical and biological warfare, Mr Advani assured that the Centre had taken all necessary steps. “We are in touch with all state governments and had recently held a meeting of the Chief Secretaries and Directors-General of Police of all states and discussed the measures to be taken in this regard.”