And of course the GoI continues with its nonsense, now apparently questioning the Pakistani process.
Who the hell does he think he is?
Pakistan's laws and legal system are for Pakistanis to implement and interpret, and the investigation will be done by us and charges filed the way we think fit.
I have said before as well, so long as the GoI continues with this arrogant BS and belligerence, long term peace and reduction of tensions will not be possible.
here is his full interview
The battle of words escalate between India and Pakistan. In an exclusive interview to TIMES NOW, Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee slams Pakistan for not acting upon the 26/11 dossier of proof handed over to it by India.
Here is an excerpt of Pranab Mukherjee's interview to TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on a day when Pakistan took the propoganda campaign against India to a whole new level.
Arnab: What is the reaction from Pakistan after the dossier has been sent there as evidence?
Pranab: Pakistan's reaction to the dossier is unfortunate but it is not unexpected. Pakistan has always done that. They say something and they do just the opposite. They have been in denial mode constantly from day one. That is precisely the question I have been asking the Pakistan authorities; Have you studied the dossier and examined it? Whose job is it to conduct and investigate? It is the investigation agency's. The information which we have handed over to the political authorities of Pakistan was expected to be handed over to their investigating agencies. They would judge it and thereafter they would take follow-up action from the leads they would get from their investigations.
Arnab: They used it and describes it as information.
Pranab: But most respectfully I would like to submit that whenever an offence or a crime takes place, the first thing that the police or investigating agency requires is an FIR. On the basis of that information report, they carry on investigations and come to conclusions by collecting and collating other material facts to support or to disprove the information which they have received. This is the procedure. But as I said, this is not unexpected of Pakistan because they have been in denial mode from day one. Otherwise how can they come to conclusions within 24 hours.
Arnab: Are you saying that Pakistan pre-judged your evidence politically?
Pranab: That is exactly my point. They did not look into it. We have given them some numbers. We have given them some names. We have given them some connections and they should investigate. I will give you three contradictions from the leadership of Pakistan. Take the case of Kasab, the only surviving terrorist captured by the Mumbai police. His father says that he's his son. Have Pakistan authorities investigated on this? Does the village not exist on the map of Pakistan? Was it not shown on screen? The man spoke before a television camera.
Arnab: Why would you go by a press report ?
Pranab: I am not going by a press report, but some of the people who have seen it. After all what is happening on Pakistani television or what is happening on Indian television can be seen by both sides. Therefore, these are matters to be investigated. Secondly about Masood Azhar. How can a responsible person like the defence minister of Pakistan say that he is under house arrest? He should either be in police custody or Judicial custody. After a couple of days they say that he is not visible.
Arnab: Are you only going by what they said or do you have any evidence to prove that Masood Azhar is in Pakistan?
Pranab: It is not my job to prove it. Pakistan is committed as per international law practice that he is a hijacker. His release took place on the demands of hijackers who hijacked a plane from Kathmandu, took it to Kandahar. To save the lives of the passengers, the Indian authorities decided to hand over this person who was in police custody here, under trial. Therefore, if he is available in Pakistan, Pakistan should have taken action against him. Why should the request come from us?
Arnab: The comment that is coming from the government is like - Given the sophistications and military precision of the attack, it must have had the support of official agencies in Pakistan. Is the fact that you believe that the attack had the support of official agencies in Pakistan only and inference or surmise or can you really back it up?
Pranab: We are not delaying this matter in the court of law. These are the arenas of the court of law. Evidence has to be examined and cross examined. Facts have to be analysed and after all it is a battle between the prosecutor and defence and thereafter the court will come to a conclusion. Essentially, we are dealing with the political authorities. They have committed that they will not allow their territories to be used by terrorists. But if we find that terrorist attacks taking place are by elements of Pakistan, what should I tell them? Should I go and prove it in the court of law or should I tell them as per our information your land is being used by terrorists who prevent it. Fulfill your commitment. This is exactly what I have been telling Pakistan authorities from day one. On the 28th of last month when the Pakistan foreign Minister Qureshi was here I requested him to fulfil the commitment which has been given at the highest level.
Arnab: We have heard the reactions from the Prime Minister as well as Pakistan, what is next?
Pranab: A former Prime Minister of Pakistan wrote in a letter to the then President which was published in her book after her death. Qureshi used the exact same phrase that there is no state line in Pakistan. Everything is in cycle. You talked of completing the cycle. When state sponsored terrorism started, it emanated from Pakistan. One of their leaders said that India cannot be divided in open confrontation therefore inflict injuries, a thousand cuts and let India die. And from this thesis 1989 onwards they carrried on indulging terrorist activities on the border, in Jammu and Kashmir and it is going on till date. Therefore, if we find that an attack which has been done, apart from the evidence which we have given; the satellite phone, the evidence and material available on the boat which the terrorists used, other evidence and interceptions, all these clearly demonstrate and is expected that Pakistan will act on it. But instead of acting on it, they are in denial mode again. They said that their leader were killed in terrorist attacks, nobody denies that. Benazir Bhutto was killed in a terrorist attack but how is it that the Pakistan government demanded that the investigation should take place by UN investigative agencies? They do not have faith and confidence in their own agencies that is why they requested an external agency to investigate the matter. The government does not have confidence in their own machinery and it expects others to have confidence in them.
Arnab: Are you saying that you believe that Pakistan's democratically elected government, which is not even a year old believes in the same policy of bleeding India through a thousand cuts?
Pranab: I do not. What the Pakistan foreign secretary said is that the magnitude of the planning, the ferocity and the intensity of the attack clearly demonstrates that it was well planned, well rehearsed and without the backing and support of a section of the officials it could not have materialised.
Arnab: Do you mean the army or the government?
Pranab: We use the phrase 'elements from Pakistan'. It is for the investigating agency to find out which agencies are responsible and that is exactly what has been stated. If somebody accepts terrorism as an instrument of the state, then how can you deal with it?
Arnab: Yesterday the Pakistan foreign office said that if this goes on like this we could go to the UN.
Pranab: I am not going to justify what the foreign office said. They are in denial mode from day one. I am not enamoured with what the Pakistan foreign ministry said. From day one they have been contradicting each other. What is the gospel truth in what they say? Why am I to accept it?
Arnab: Pakistan has laid emphasis on particular comment of yours where you said that all options are open. You said it on 2 or 3 occassions and they said that was really an indication that India was planning to launch a military strike on them?
Pranab: And that is why they they will have to induge in hoax calls and that is why they will have to mobilise their armed forces and that is why they will have to create hysteria in Pakistan about an impending attack on Pakistan? It is nothing but a crude tactic of diverting attention of the international community against this. Therefore, the issue is not war hysteria or impending war. The issue is that a dastardly terrorist attack has taken place on Mumbai. We have evidence from which we have come to the conclusion that Pakistani land was used, Pakistani elements were invovled and we are asking them to fulfil the commitments which they made. We are asking them to do exactly as party to the SAARC anti-terrorism mechanism, as a state party to the special protocol of SAARC adopted in 2004, various international commitments including UN resolution, to implement it and not just to play games. These are things to be expected. When I said that all options are kept open I did not use the word 'war'. Why should they interpret it as war? Whether it is war or not is totally irrelevant. When is said 'all options' it is inclusive, not exclusive.
Arnab: Would you say that today?
Pranab: No, I am not saying anything. I'm just straightening it out. We have never created war hysteria. We have never mobilised forces. We have not kept our air force alert. From where did they get this information. It is just to hoodwink international opinion.
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