India to act decisively if another attack happens: Chidambaram - GEO.tv
NEW DELHI:
India will act "swiftly and decisively" if another terrorist attack emanates
from Pakistani soil, Indian 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 Indian 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.
Referring to 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."
"
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.
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."