M A I N   N E W S

PM to Brown: Don't stereotype Indians
Anita Katyal and Tripti Nath
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today donned a South Asian mantle and batted for Pakistan as well as its beseiged President Pervez Musharraf.

Manmohan Singh also disclosed that he telephoned British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday in context of a “fear psychosis” gripping the South Asian community.

In the UK following the arrest of three Indian doctors on suspicion of their involvement in failed terror attempts, he made it clear that labelling terrorists on the basis of communities or nationalities would not help.

He cautioned against sticking to such stereotyped list of classification. “Terrorists are terrorists. They have no particular religions, no particular communities. These labels are best avoided. They have to be dealt with as such rather than to fix labels to them like ‘Pakistanis’, ‘non-Pakistani’ , `Muslims’ or ‘non Muslims’.”

In this context, he also remarked, “I am a Sikh and I know what it means to be called a Sikh terrorist.”

He said he was in touch with the UK government and had offered “all possible help” in dealing with the situation. He emphasised that his government would protect the Indian diaspora in that country.

He was speaking to members of the Indian Women Press Corps at Panchavati at his Race Course Road official residence. The interaction lasted an hour.

He refused to comment on Pakistan situation in view of the Lal Masjid developments. He merely said, “Pakistan is faced with a difficult situation. We don’t want to complicate matters. I don’t want to judge things hastily.”

On terrorism, he said Pakistan was also realising that the menace affected everybody. “It goes without saying that as a nation we stand with all those who hope to wipe out the scourge of terrorism. We will cooperate with all segments of the world community.”

Significantly, Manmohan Singh conceded in response to a question that the India-Pakistan dialogue may have slowed down, but added that it was “not because of us, but because of the situation in Pakistan.”

He pointed out that never before in history, India and Pakistan had such a serious, sustained and intensive dialogue covering all aspects. “Both of us are committed to the dialogue. We have greater concern for each other.”

He said when he had met Gen Musharraf for the first time, he told him that he had no mandate or agenda for redrawing the boundaries but their common challenge was to make the borders irrelevant. “We took time but we have come to a common understanding.”

On China, he said India had made a new beginning two years ago. “We have agreed to a broader principle that will delineate our border. This is not an easy issue,” he remarked.

On nuclear deal, the Prime Minister said two or three issues remain to be sorted out. He said foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon and national security adviser M K Narayanan will be visiting Washington soon in this connection. “Whether we succeed (in our efforts) or not, only time will tell,” he said.

On the controversy regarding berthing nuclear-powerd American ship Nimitz in Chennai recently, the Prime Minister was dismissive. “It is an ordinary development. We have had naval ships from France, the UK and China. Too much should not be made out of it,” he advised.

UK Terror Plot
96 hours to quiz Haneef

Canberra, July 5
Australian authorities, joined today by British police, have won more time to interrogate Dr Mohamed Haneef who was held in connection with the plot to detonate car bombs in London and Scotland.

A court judge in Queensland granted Australian police and a senior British counter-terrorism officer an extra 96 hours to question Haneef (27), who was detained trying to leave Australia on Monday, under anti-terrorism laws.

The decision, taken behind closed doors and without publicly released reasons, gives police until Monday evening to decide whether to charge, free or extradite Haneef.

“The laws don’t specify a cut-off point, but we would need the permission of a judicial officer and good reasons to extend it again,” an Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokeswoman said.

Haneef is one of eight people arrested over the car bomb plot who are doctors or have medical links, and the only one held outside Britain.

His family in India has said he is innocent and brother Mohammed Shuaib said Haneef had only planned to visit his wife Firdaus Arshiya, who recently gave birth in Bangalore. “His character is like a mirror — clean,” sister Sumaiyaa Tabassum told ‘The Australian’.

Authorities at the Gold Coast Hospital where Haneef worked confirmed yesterday that he had been given emergency leave on Monday to visit his wife and baby daughter.

AFP commissioner Mick Keelty said earlier this week the evidence against Haneef went further than mobile phone cards.